4. Bpchanania.] 31. ANACARDIACE&. [5. Spojtdias. 



terminal panicles of small sessile white flowers £"-j" diam. 

 Drupes globose black \" diam. 



Very common, but rarely more than a small tree of Z\" girth. Especially 

 abundant in dry forests. Fl. J any. -March. Fr. April-May. Nearly ever- 

 green, but sometimes leafless April-May in dry years. Renews leaves in 

 June. 



Innovations pubescent or villous. L. pubescent beneath rounded at the 

 tip somewhat resembling oblong forms of Semecarpus, aud nervation very 

 similar but without the grey or white felt between the nerves. Petiole 

 |-J" stout pubescent Panicles pyramidal densely pubescent. Sepals 5 

 nearly free. Pet. triangular or obiong. St. 10, erect as long as the spread- 

 ing petals, inserted on the base of the fleshy lobed disc. Carpels 5 (very 

 rarely 6) of which 4 are rudimentary, hairy. 



The fruit is largely eaten, the flesh is very palatable and the kernels 

 somewhat like pistachio nuts. 



5. Spoildias, L. The Hog-plum. 

 1. S- mangifera» Willd. Ambo ; Ho. j Amburo, M, ; 

 Amra, S., H. ; Amara, Kharw. ; Katambolam Mai, P. , 

 Ainbra, Beng. 



A moderate or large tree with stout branchlets, odd-pin- 

 nate glabrous sweet- smelling leaves clustered at the ends of 

 the branchlets with 4-6 pairs of strong* nerved leaflets. White 

 flowers J- §" diam. sessile in small cymes on the branches of 

 a large panicle terminal on the bare branches, succeeded by 

 large plum-like drupes. 



Wild in the lower lying forests especially near rivers, often planted. 

 Easily recognised by ibs characteristic mango-like smell. 



Fl. Feby. -March. Fr. ripens in the following' Jan. when the tree is 

 leafless. Dec. Jany.-May. Eenews leaves May-June. 



All parts quite glabrous. Lflts. opp. oblong acuminate 2-9" by 1-4'' 

 shortly petiolulat j with 10-30 pairs of horizontal sec. nerves joined by a 

 strong intrvmarginal one. Panicle fleshy pyramidal 1-2 ft. Calyx salver- 

 shaped with 5-0 ovate acute lobes. Petals white ovate-obloDg. St. 10 

 inserted under the large cusli ion-shaped lobulate disc, with 6hort subulate 

 filaments. Carpel* 4-6 free above united below into a 4-6 celled ovary, each 

 with a very snort style. Drupe 1$" long, yellow ellipsoid with a hard 

 somewhat fibrous aud grooved 2-!3-cei!ed stone, usually 1-3-seeded. 



Fruit very astringent, greedily eaten by deer aud other animals and 

 is occasionally palatable when quite ripe. 



259 l* 



