562 © LEGUMINOS 2, 
History, Uses,&c.—Both trees are known to the natives 
of India by the same vernacular names, and both are called in 
Sanskrit Sirisa and Kapitana, and bear the synonyms of Suka- 
pushpa, Suka-druma, and Suka-priya, ‘‘ dear to parrots,” and 
Mridu-pushpa, “having soft flowers.” According to the Ni- 
-ghantas Siris has cold, tonic, and alterative properties. The 
-author of the Makhzan-el-adwiya gives a detailed description 
of the two trees as varieties of one and the same plant, and. 
says that he has been given to understand that the Arabs have 
named the tree Sultén-el-ashjér, and that the Persians call 
it Darakht-i-Zakariya. He states that the juice of the leaves is 
applied to the eyes to cure night-blindness, a decoction being 
at the same time given internally. A decoction.of the bark is 
used asa mouth-wash to strengthen the gums. One masha 
of the powdered bark with three or four tolas of melted butter 
taken daily is an excellent tonic and alterative. A water is 
also distilled from the bark which is used for the same purposes — 
The flowers are supposed to. be retentive of the seminal fluid: 
Qne dirhem of the powdered seeds with two dirhems of sugar- 
candy in a glass of warm milk taken daily issaid to thicken the. 
seminal fluid. A paste made with the seeds is applied to 
reduce enlarged cervical glands. The seeds arealso used in the 
preparation of collyria. According to Baden-Powell, Stewart, 
and Madden A. Julibrissin has similar properties. In 
Madras the bark of A. Lebbek is much used by fishermen for — 
tanning their nets. The heartwood, which is dark brown, 
hard, and fairly durable, is used for various industrial purposes. 
Description.—tThe seeds are very hard and not unlike 
those of Cassia Fistula, but smaller. They have a nauseous 
taste with someastringency. The flowers form largish globular 
heads of a yellowish-white colour, those of A. Lebbek being 
_larger than those of A. odoratissima. The bark of A. Lebbek 
has a rugged brown suber, much pitted and fissured, which can 
be separated in large flakes, leaving exposed a pitted irregular 
light red surface. The substance of the bark is light red, hard 
and gritty; it has an acidulous ieie: anne taste. ie 
inner surface is white and woody, — : 
aa 
