628 BURMA, ITS PEOPLE AND PRODUCTIOyS. 



cheap substitute. Dose, il s-xv tlirice daily. Some utterly preposterous Custom 

 rules (lid once (if they do not still) stand in the way of the importation of these oils 

 into England. The tiraher of these trees is of varying excellence, some being poor, 

 whilst others yield a fairly good wood for indoor work, but they are unsnited to bear ex- 

 posure to the elements. Speaking of the ' Kanyin,' B. Im-is and (jrnndiflora. Dr. Mason 

 says: "The common wood oil tree produces a very useful timber, which is sawn 

 into boards at Tavoy and Mergui, and used in house building. "Where not exposed 

 to the wet, they answer as well as teak, and are s(dd at half the price ; but they are 

 not imper^-ious to white ants. The best charcoal is made from this tree and the next. 

 'I'he Burmese distinguish two species, ni and phiju, or red and white. The most 

 common species from which the torches are made is called red in the Tenasserim 

 Provinces, and Martaban." 



Pab.vshoeea, Kurz. 



Cahjx-tule very short, not enlarging. Stamens 1 2-15, the connective mucromilate. 

 Oniry free, 3-celled. Sti/Je filiform. Calyx-iuhn in fruit not enlarged, the 5 lobes 

 valvato, and almost equally wing-like. Xut 1-sceded, free and not in the least 

 inclosed by the spreading calyx-lobes. Lofty trees, with shining leaves. Flowers 

 small, whitish, racemose, in dense panicles. The generic character lies in the 

 (Vstiration of the cali/x and entireli/ exposed nut. 



P. STELL.ATA, Dyer. E.T. Tropical forests of Pegu Eange and ilartuban. 



Koung-hmu (Kurz). 



SnoEE.i, Roxhtirgh. 



Cahjx-fuhe very short. Stamens 35-100, the cells unequal, and often a little 

 pilose at the tips, the connective terminating in a bristle or peuicellate sharp point. 

 Orary free, 3-celled. Fniitmff eahjx not enlarged, the wing-like 5 lobes erect, veiy 

 imbricate, and with theii' broad twisted bases closely embracing the nut. Trees with 

 entire leaves. Flowers small, racemose, in panicles. 



* Inflorescence tomentose or relret i/-puhescenf . 

 X Leares chartaceous, if/ienfiill/jruirn (jlahrous or nearly so. 

 S. OBTisA, Wall. From Ava to Tenasserim. 



Thit-ya. 



Shorter calyx-lobes in fruit acuminate. Stamens 20-25. 



The wood of the Thit-ya (or Thiyah) is strong and valuable, though coarse and 

 somewhat hard to work. It precisely resembles its near ally the ' Sal ' of India 

 {S. rohtista, Roxb.), and weighs 67 lbs. to the cubic foot. Kurz (following Braudis) 

 says 57 ; but this is far too low for a good specimen, and Balfour (Timber Trees, p. 247) 

 says 75, which is far too high for a seasoned sample. The tree also furnishes a 

 white resin. 



S. EOBDSTA, Roxb. Ava. 



Shorter calyx-lobes in fruit blunt. Stamens about 50. 



S. Helfeki, Dyer. Tenasserim. 



Incompletely known. Leaves apparently persistent. 



X X Leaves very coriaceous, appressed silvery heneath. 

 * * Inflorescence quite glabrous. 

 S. (Hopea) floribunda, Wall. Tenasserim. 



Calyx quite glabrous. 



Pextacme, Be Candolle. 



Calyx imbricate, the tube very short. Petals infracted from their middle and 

 closely twisted round the sexual organs, forming a closed hermispherieal corolla, 

 perforated only at the top. Stamens 15. Anthers 4-celled, the cells almost equal, 



