250 MeliacecS. [ IVahnra. 



Leaves uni-foliolate i. W. Gardneri. 



Leaves tri-foliolate 2. W. PiSClDlA. 



1. W. Gardneri, Thiv. Enion. p. 61 (1858). 

 Thw. Enum. 61. C. P. 11 63. 



FI. B. Ind. i. 563. 



A small tree, 10-20 ft, young parts glabrous ; 1. uni- 

 foliolate, 3-6 in., oval or lanceolate, acute at base, acuminate, 

 entire, glabrous, petiole |-i in.; fl. in small, short, dense, 

 paniculate cymes on extra-axillary peduncles shorter than 

 the 1. ; cal.-teeth short, acute ; pet. oblong-oval, apiculate ; 

 fil. distinct almost or quite to base, contiguous, flat, hairy 

 within ; fruit \-\\ in., fusiform-ovoid, beaked, finely tomen- 

 tose, dull orange ; seed nearly covered by the white aril, 

 filling the fruit. 



Moist region at about 2000-3000 ft.; rather rare. Hantane; Alla- 

 gala; summit of Ritigala. Fl. Feb., March; white. 

 Endemic. 



2. W. Piscidia,* Roxb. Hort. Bcng. 32 (18 14). Kiri-kon, BIol- 

 petta, S. Chadavakku, T. 



Thw. Enum. 61. C. P. 1162. 



Fl. B. Ind. i. 564. Wight, 111. t. 55. 



A small or moderate-sized tree, bark light-brown, vertically 

 cracked, rather thick, young parts glabrous ; 1. 3-foliolate, 

 rachis stiff, glabrous, brown, Iflts. ii-3 in., stalked, oblong- 

 oval, acute at base, obtuse, entire, glabrous, pale and finely 

 reticulate beneath ; fl. I in., on short ped., in small, rather 

 dense, long-stalked, pubescent, axillary or terminal, paniculate 

 cymes, as long as or longer than the 1. ; cal.-lobes acute, 

 pubescent ; pet. pubescent outside ; fil. slightly connate at 

 base, broad, flat, hairy inside, anth. terminal, apiculate ; fr. 

 ^— i in., broadly ovoid, minutely apiculate, finely tomentose, 

 bright orange - yellow ; seed usually solitary, completely 

 enveloped in white, juicy aril, testa pale brown, with promi- 

 nent raphe down ventral side. 



Var. ft. acuminata, Trim. W. TJnuaitcsii, Cas. DC. I.e. 635. 



Lflts. larger, more or less (often very) acuminate ; fruit 

 larger, § in. 



Low country ; very common in the dry region ; var. ft. in Am- 

 bagamuwa and other parts of the moist region. Fl. March; pinkish- 

 white. 



Also in Malabar and Travancore ; var. ft. endemic (?). 



Varies much in appearance and character of foliage. The pulpy 

 aril of the seed is edible and pleasant. Wood hard, heavy, close-grained, 

 dark reddish-brown. 



* Piscidia from the use of the bark as a fish-poison. 



