Dalherg'ia. diadf.lphia okcandria. 223 



3. D. .v;,N,sY)o. Roxb. 



Leaflets about five, alternate, roiuul, acute. Panicles ax- 

 illary. Fi/ameuts nine, equally coalesced into one. Legume 

 lanceolate. 



Sans. Shinjysliupa. 



Hind, and Beyig. Sissoo. 



A native of Bengal, and of" the adjoining- provinces to tlie 

 northward, ^lowering- time the beginning- of the hot season; 

 the seed ripens about the close of the year. 



Tnink generally more or less crooked, high and of great 

 thickness, often from three to four feet in diameter. Branches 

 numerous, spreading- in every direction ; branchlels bifarious. 

 Young shoots downy and always drooping, even the leading- 

 one. Bark on young trees ash coloured and pretty smooth, 

 when old uncommoidy (hick, and very deeply cracked in 

 every direction. Leaves alternate, bifarious, pinnate. LeaJ- 

 kts alternate, generally from three to five, sub-orbicular or 

 obcordate, pointed, waved, when young downy, when oUl 

 smooth and shining; from one to twelve inches each way, the 

 inferior ones smallest. Petioles round, waved, very downy 

 when young, smooth when old. Siipv lesh\\\Qeo\\\ie, caducous. 

 Panicle axillary, downy, composed of numerous, short, sub- 

 secund spikes. Flowers small, of a yellowish white. Bractes 

 small, caducous. Calyx campanulate, hairy ; the upper two 

 divisions rounded, the under three acute, Corol as in the 

 genus. Filaments nine, equally coalesced for two-thirds 

 their length, thin, alternate, shorter with roundish anthers. 

 Germ pedicelled. Style very short. Stigma large, glandu- 

 lar. Legume linear-lanceolate, membranaceous, three-seed- 

 ed. Seeds compressed ; reniform. 



This tree yields the Bengal ship-builders their crooked tim- 

 bers and knees. It is tolerably light, remarkably strong, but 

 unfortunately not so durable as could be wished. It answers 

 well for various other economical purposes ; the colour, a light 

 grayish brown, with darker coloured veins. Upon the whole 

 I scarcely know any other tree that deserves more attention. 



