1. Odina.] 31. ANJCARDIACJS^!. [2. Sbmecabptts. 



the ends of the bare twigs, succeeded by curved obloDg 

 compressed red drupes J* long. 



Very common in all the districts especially in dry forests, where it 

 is one of the first trees to lose and one of the last to regain its leaves. 

 Fl. March- April. Fr. May-June. Dec. Nov. -May ., but eeedlings keep 

 their leaves till January. 



Branch! ets with a large pith, thin wood and thick tonga white 

 bark. Young shoots, leaves and inflorescence with scattered 

 stellate h*irs. Lflts. 2$-5£" ovate opposite mostly acuminate with 

 oblique unequal base, lower smaller shortly petioluiate, upper some- 

 times sessile, terminal petiolule 1-2", Racemes very numerous at th« 

 ends of the twigs* r from upper leafless axils, never truly terminal, erect 

 or ultimately drooping. M. 3-8" often with slender branches. Sep. 

 4 (-5), ovate ciliate, &-%" imbricate. Pet. as many |" oblong acute. 

 Bt. 8 on the margin of the annular disc. Pistillode 4-5-grooved clavate 

 truncate. F. racemes 3-6" elongating in fruit to 8", not or very shortly 

 branched. Pet. 4-5 oblong obtuse l Q ". Staminodes 8 on a small disc at base 

 of the 4-6-grooved oblong ovary. Styles 3-6 short thick with a papillose 

 stigma, t ivule on a long pendulous funicle. Drupe with a thin fleshy 

 epioarp and large stone, seated on the persistent somewhat enlarged GV) 

 calyx. 



The tree contains an abundance of starch and is therefore easily 

 raised fr ^m cuttings and good for fodder. It yields a clear gum in 

 considerable quantities I he bark is astringent and gives a coarse fibre. 

 The fruit is largely eaten by birds. 



3. Semecarpns, Linn. f. The Marking Nut. 



1. S. .Anacardium, L. S030, K., 8.; Bhelwa, Kharw., H. ; 

 Bhela, Beng. 



A small tree with large simple oblong or obovate strongly- 

 nerved leaves 8-18" long clustered at the ends of the branches, 

 and small subsessible fasciculate dull greenish -yellow male 

 or polygamous flowers on the branches of a terminal panicle. 

 Fruit an oblong or obliquely ovoid drupe, black when ripe, 

 seated on a fleshy orange cup (formed of the swollen accres- 

 cent calyx-base and disc). 



Fairly abundant throughout the forest, but scattered. 



FL June-Sept. Fr. Dec.-March. Dec. March-May. 



Branchlets stout, young pubescent or tomentose. L. hairy on the nerves 

 beneath and grey between the nervules with a close-felted layer of mio- 

 roscopic papiilos, apex rounded. Sec. n. 16-25 pairs reticulate within the 



257 l 



