102. BIGNONIACE^. [6. Eadermachera. 



simple. The difference in number of sec. n. is remarkable and suggests two 

 species. 



Frequently' found in grass lands for which it is useful in afforestation. Gamble 

 says that " the wood is durable, easy to work and good for building, but that the 

 amoimt of heart wood is small. Is an excellent firewood and makes good charcoal." 

 I used to find however that it was difficult to utilise it for fuel on account of its 

 being difficult, like S. tetragonum, to s])lit. The weight is given as about 40-50 lbs. 



4. S. chelonoides, Haines, non De Canclolle. Syii. Bignonia clielo- 

 noicles, L.f., vide Keio Bulletin. 



Little is known of the true Bignonia chelo)ioideg except from the specimen in the 

 Linnean Herbarium collected at Tranquebar. It very possibly, however, occurs in 

 ovir i^rovinces, as a specimen very similar to it \vas collected by me in the Central 

 Provinces. 



It is a very pubescent tree with the young parts tomentose and panicle almost 

 hirsute but with the leaflets shaped like those of S. tetragonum. The petiolules are 

 not long or slender as in that species but rather short and stout. The fruit is 

 unknown. The flower much resembles our augustifolium, which may indeed be only 

 a variety of the Linnean species which should be looked for. Tlie only way to 

 satisfactorily determine the Stereospermums is to mark down flowering trees' and 

 therefrom afterwards to collect the mature leaves and capsules. 



6. RADERMACHERA, Zoll. and Moritz. 

 Trees with opposite 1-3-pinnate leaves and large flowers in terminal 

 brachiate panicles. Corolla campanulate with very short narrowly 

 tubular base not villous within^ limb sub-2-labiate. Stamens didy- 

 namous, glabrous, anther-cells divergent or divaricate. Ovary 

 elongate, ovules many-seriate in each cell. Stigma linguiform. 

 Capsule linear, cylindric or sub-compressed, 2-valved, often spiral 

 with coriaceous or woody valves and large sub-terete corky septum. 

 Seeds flat not inserted in deep depressions of the septum, wings 

 without a deep furrow between, cotyledons flat, 



1. R. xylocarpa, K. Sch. Syn. Stereospermum xylocarpum, Wight ;. 

 Khonda-Partoli, Or. ; Pampani, Khond. 

 A large tree with very large 2-3-pinnate leaves 2-3 ft. long with, 

 elliptic to ovate shortly acuminate leaflets 2-6" long, entire or 

 coarsely serrate, rather pale or silvery beneath. Flowers large, 

 l'5-25" long, white with yellow or pinkish, sweet-scented, in stout 

 erect rigid ovoid panicles 3-7" long, the pedicels sub-capitately 

 corymbose on the branches. Pod up to 3 ft. long, woody, tubercled, 

 septvim "o" broad. Seeds 1*2" long with the wings. 



In the Southern area only and not common. Singbhum, near the Deo River, 

 very rare! Gangpur, Prain's Collector \ Mais of Puri ! Angul (Raigoda, Purna- 

 kot and Jacobo forests; ! Fl. April-May when leafless. Fr. up to the following 

 April. Deciduous March-May. 



Attains 8 ft. girth in favoui'able situations but usually smaller in our area, with 

 thick light-grey rather smooth and flaky bark and rather thick brown and cream 

 blaze, darkening on exposure. Twigs very stout marked with large leaf scars, leaf 

 buds resinous. Leaves soon glabrous or permanentlj' finelj- pubescent on rhachis 

 and principal nerves; pinns -4-5 prs. ; Iflts. 3-11, petioluled, sec. n. 4-5, strong 

 beneath, of which 1-2 near base, tertiaries rather strong. Panicle rhachis glabrous 

 lenticellate at base, branches tomentose upwards. Bracts on panicle narrow 

 •2-'25", caducous. Pedicels tomentose, •4-"5", articulate under the flower. Calyx 

 campanulate, "d-b", puberulous 5-toothed, 2 upper teeth broader and more obtuse, 

 all mucronate. 



Gamble states that the wood is good and handsome, it is tough and elastic and 

 takes a good polish. Weight about 42 lbs. 



657 



