288 BURMA, ITS PEOPLE AXD rRODUCTIOSS. 



X X Leaves peyininerved. 

 D. AHGENTEuir, Kz. Eastcm slopes of the Pegu Range and llartaban. 



Leaves beautifully appressed silvery-pubescent beneath. Flowers in very short 

 racemes. 



** Anthers opening hteralhj, the valves separating lateralhj, from the inner tu the 

 outer edge. 



HEENANDi-i, Bhime. 



Flowers moncecious, the females with an involucre inclosing the fruit. Perianth- 

 segments in two series, valvate in bud, the rows in the males of 3-4, in the females 

 4-5 segments. Stamens as many as the outer perianth-segments and opposite to them, 

 basally 2- (rarely l-)giandular. Anthers 2-celled, introrse. 



H. PELTATA, Meissn. KT. Coasts of the Andamans, Kamorta. 



KatchaU and Car jVicohar. 



All parts glabrous. Leaves peltate, minute at the base on 3-5 inch long petiole- 

 acute, palmateiy nerved, 6-8 inches long by 4*-6 broad. Flowers white, conspicuous. 

 "Wood very light, and so reatlily takes lire "that it might be used for tinder (Kurz). 



Sub-order CASSYTJIEyE. 

 Parasitical herbs, with the habit of Cuscuta, with filiform twining stem adhering 

 by suckers to living plants. 



Cassttha, Linnceus. 



Floirers hermaphrodite. Perianth ovoid or tubular, with 3 outer equal lobes, 

 and 3 inner minute ones. Stamens 9, the 3 inner ones with 2 glands at the base. 

 Anthers 2-celled, those of the inner stamens turned outwards. Staminodes 3, small. 

 Fruit iuclosed in the succulent tube of the perianth. Leaves reduced to minute scales. 

 Flowers sessile in axillary spikes. 



C. riLrFOEMis, L. Kamorta. Katchall. Car Nicobar (K.). 



All the species of this Order are more or less aromatic and fragrant, and some 

 are commercially important, as Cinnamomum Zeglanicum, which yields the best sort 

 of Cinnamon, and Cainphora officinarum, from which much of the Camphor of 

 commerce is prepared. Camphor, however, which is a concrete volatile oil, exists 

 in the wood and roots of several other species of this and other Orders, and is 

 prepared by distilling the wood with water, after which it is refined by a second 

 distillation, which, from the volatile nature of the drug, is easily effected with 

 a veiy simple apparatus. Cinnamomum Ztylanicum is cultivated for its aromatic 

 bark, but several allied species yield a similar, though inferior article, which is used 

 to adulterate the genuine, as C. cassia, C. riiirion, C. aroniuticuni, C. nitidum, 

 C. tamala, and others, the two last yielding also ' Tej pat ' of the Indian bazaars, 

 or ihe folia MaJahathri of authois, so much used in cookery. 



C. parthenoxglon has a fragrant odour of sassafras, and is called by the Karens, 

 on that account, says Dr. Mason, 'The tree galanga,' 'galanga' being the root of 

 a Zinziberaceous plant, Eampferia galanga. 



In addition to Camphor, a few Burmese species produce Benzoin. The Avocado, 

 or Alligator Pear {Persea gratissima), belongs to this Order, which yields no good fruits. 



Many trees of this Order yield useful and even valuable timber, as the ' Green- 

 heart ' of" Demerara [Xevtandra Podiai) ; ' Madeira Mahogany ' ( Persea indica) ; The 

 'foetid Til' of the Canaries {Oreodaphne faiens); The 'Sweet-wood' of Jamaica 

 {Oreodaphne exalbata), and the 'Stink-wood' of South Africa {Oreodaphne lullata). 

 The ' Green-heart ' yields also a powerful alkaloid, Bebcerine, the active ingredient of 

 "Warburg's Drops, and second only to Quinine as a vegetable antiperiodic. The woods 

 of our Burmese LaurinecB are not well known, but some seem adapted for light 

 cnrpentiT and indoor work. One such is specified by Dr. Mason as producing a hard 

 wood named in Tavoy ' Kyaizai,' whilst another is recommended for occasional, 



