2 Bbidblia.] 22. EUPEORBIACEJE. 



3. Small tree or a shrub. Leaves only 1-3", rarely 

 6 r , sec. n. not very strong 5. tomentosa, 



1. B. retusa, Spreng. Karaka, 11. ; Kaka, Ho. j Karke 

 anum, Kadrapala, S. ; Kaj, kaji, Kharw, 



A small tree usually with long conical thorns on the trunk 

 when young, stiff ell.-oblong strongly nerved leaves, glabrous 

 or pubescent, grey or glaucous beneath, and dioecious or 

 monoecious fls. in axillary and spicate clusters. 



Common in all the districts. Fl. Aug.-Oct. Fr. Nov.-Jany. Evergreen. 



L. shining above, sometimes somewhat obovate, always acute with 

 rounded base, 4" by 2" to 10" by 4£'', usually somewhat pubescent beneath. 

 Petiole swollen $-$''. M. fls. pedicelled. Petals of M. obovate coarsely 

 toothed, of Fern, entire. Calyx $'' diam. in frt. Fr. i'-'-^" diam. greenish- 

 yellow or flesh-coloured, globose. Pyrenes ridged. 



The drupes are quoted as purplish-black by Brandis and in the F.B.L 



This is so when over-ripe and when dried. They are usually eaten by 

 birds before this stage, and are a favourite food of Hornbills, parrots and 

 green pigeons. 



The leaves are largely used for buffalo fodder. 



1. B. montana, Wilid,. Vern. as in the last, 

 A small, often straggling tree, without thorns, with glab- 

 rous brown pustulate twigs and leaves sometimes rather re- 

 sembling those of retusa, but mostly obovate with a rounded 

 tip, smaller and of a much brighter green. Fls. never spicate, 

 and even the quite young fruit ovoid or ellipsoid. 



Common in rocky ravines in the Santal P. On Parasnath in Hazari- 

 bagh. Fl. Oct.-Dec. Fr. Feby. 



There appears to be some confusion in the F.B.L between B. retusa 

 and this species, the fruit of which is described (in the F.B.L) as globose, 

 and the leaves as shining above, whereas when the trees are seen growing 

 in the same locality, one of the most obvious distinctions is the dull ana 

 lighter green colour of the leaf surface of montana compared with that of 

 retusa. 



L. obovate or broadly elliptic, shorter in proportion than B. retusa 

 and rounded or retuse at the tip, narrowed but not acute at the base, 

 glabrous or puberolous beneath. Size about 4" by 2J" to 6* by 3£"> 

 though occasionally some abnormally very large leaves occur as in other 

 species of the genus. Petiole i' 1 . Fls. sessile or sub-sessile, monoecious* 

 M. with lanceolate or oblong-lanc. sepals, and obovate coarsely toothed 

 petals. jP. sepals triangular-lanceolate, pet. oblong entire. 



215 



