CXTI. URTICACE.I5. »U5 



Perianth as in the male. Ovary glohose, smooth ; style short, lateral. 

 Fehtile flowers iu separate receptacles. Sepals 4, slightly hairy. 

 Style elougate, lateral. Achenes slightly papillose, obliquely ovoid. Fl. 

 B. I. V. 5, p. 497 ; Prain, Beng. PI. p. 972 ; Watt, Diet. Econ. Prod. v. 3, 

 p. 351. Ficiis gihbosa, Talb. Trees, Bomb. ed. 2, p. 326 ; Woodr. in 

 JoLirn. Bomb. Nat. v. 12 (1S99) p. 515. F. parasitica (sp,). Keen, ex 

 Willd. in Mem. Acad. Berol. 1798 (1801) p. 1U2 ; Bedd. Por. Man. in 

 Plor. Sylvat. p. ccxxiv. F. Ampelos, Koeu. iu Roxb. Hort. Beng. (1814) 

 p. 103 {not of Burm.); Wight, Icon. t. 652. Urostigma Ampelos, Dalz, 

 & Gribs. Bo. PI. (1801) p. 315. Urostigma volubile, Dalz. & Gibs. Bo. 

 PI. (1861) p. 242.— Pruit ripe Apr.-May. Veric. Ddtir. 



Throughout the Presideucy, tolerably common. — Distrib. India (Behar, Central 

 India, W. Peninsula). 



The leaves are used to polish ivory, and the root-bark is employed in native medicine. 

 See Watt, Diet. Econ. Prod. 1. e. 



2. Picus bengalensis, Linn. Hort. Oliff. (1737) p. 471, no. 4, ^ /S^>. 

 PL (1753) p. 1059. A very large tree reaching 100 ft. high, sending 

 down many aerial roots from the branches and thus extending the 

 growth of the tree indefinitely ; young parts softly pubescent. Leaves 

 coriaceous, 4-8 by 2-5 in., ovate or orbicular-ovate to elliptic, obtuse, 

 entire, glabrescent above, glabi-ous or minutely pubescent beneath, base 

 rouuded or subcordate, 3-7-nerved with about 5-7 pairs of lateral nerves 

 above the basal ones and distiuct reticulate venation between ; peduncles 

 |-2 in. long, stout ; stipules |-1 in. long, coriaceous. Eeceptaeles 

 about I in. in diam., sessile in pairs, axillary, globose, puberulous, red 

 when ripe, with 3 broad rounded nearly glabrous coriaceous basal bracts. 

 Male flowers rather numerous near the mouth of the receptacles. 

 Sepals 4,. lanceolate. Stamen 1. GtAll eloavers : Perianth as in the 

 male. Style short. Fertile flowers : Perianth shorter than in the 

 male. Style elongate. PI. B. I. v. 5, p. 499 ; J. Commel. Plort. Med. 

 Amstel. liar. PI. Hist. v. 1 (1697) p. 119, t. 62; Bedd. Por. Man. in 

 Flor. Sylvat. p. ccxxii ; King, Sp. Pic. p. 18, t. 13 & t. 81, fig. C ; Trim. 

 PI. Ceyl. v. 4, p. 86 ; Talb. Trees, Bomb. ed. 2, p. 326 ; AYoodr. in Journ. 

 Bomb. Nat. v. 12 (1899) p. 515 ; Prain, Beng. PI. p. 973 ; Watt, Diet. 

 Econ. Prod. v. 3, ]). 343. Ficus indica, Linn. Araoen. Acad. ed. 3, v. 1, 

 (1787) p. 27 ; Grab. Cat. p. 189. Urostigma hengalense. Gasp. Nov. 

 Gen. Pie. p. 7; Wight, Icon. t. 1989; Dalz. & Gibs. p. 240.— Pruit 

 ripe Apr.-June. Vern. Wad. 



The tree, known to Anp;lo-Indiaus as the Banyan-iree, is widely planted, often near 

 temples and shrines. It is an object of veneration among Hindus. From its property 

 of extending indefinitely by means of its aerial roots many of the trees attain a large 

 size. A celebrated tree known as the Kabir Bar grows on an island in the Narbada 

 river o])posite the village of Siikiltirat about 12 miles above Broach, and a very large 

 tree may be found near Jaoli, a village in the Sattara CoUectoiate. The measurements 

 of this latter tree taken in 1882 by Mr. (now Sir William) Lee Warner are given by 

 Sir G. King (/. c.) and are as follows : — Circumference of iiead 1587 ft. ; length from 

 North to South 595 ft., and from East to West 442 ft. The plant is not found wild 

 in the Bombay Presidency. Sir G-. King states that it is " really wild only in the Sub- 

 himalayan forests and on the lower slopes of the hill-ranges in Southern India." 



3. Ficus mysorensis, Begne, in Roth, Nov. PI. Sp. (1821) p. 390. 

 A tree with a shady head, often leafless when in ripe ivmt {Talbot) •, 

 aerial roots few, embracing the stem ; young branches with grey or 

 rufous flocculent tomentum, afterwards glabrous ; stem usually short ; 



