498 ODOROGEAPHIA. 



Schubertia. 



Sclmhertia graveolens, Lindley, Bot. Mag., t. 3891, Bot. Beg., t. 

 1846. Native of Brazil and found in several parts of tropical 

 South America. The genus Schubertia belongs to the same Xatural 

 Order as Stephanotis, Asclepiadacecc, with which it is equal in 

 beauty, the flowers being rather larger, quite as fragrant and like- 

 wise produced in great profusion. The several species of Schubertia 

 are twining, hairy and milky shrubs with opposite leaves, which 

 are variable in form, being sometimes obtuse, sometimes acuminate. 

 The large fleshy flowers are produced in handsome umbels. The 

 calyx is deeply 5-parted ; the corolla funnel-shaped, the tube 

 swollen l)elow, and the limb divided into 5 linear spreading lobes ; 

 the anthers are terminated by a short membrane. The pollen- 

 masses are obovate, compressed and pendulous and the stigma 

 turbinate. 



Sterospermum. 



Sterospermum is a genus of Bignoniacece, embracing about a 

 dozen species, all of which are confined to tropical parts of Africa 

 and Asia. They are all trees with imparipinnate leaves and 

 terminal panicles bearing generally white, often highly fragrant 

 flowers. The almost bony, scarcely winged seed, attached to the 

 very corky septum of a cylindrical or almost square capsule, 

 together with a cup-shaped calyx and almost bell-shaped corolla, at 

 once distinguish the genus from all others of the order to which it 

 belongs. 



Sterospermum suaveolens is frequent throughout the moister parts 

 of India. Its vernacular name in Hindustanee is Pad, Paral and 

 Kashta-patali. In Bengalee it is known as Parul. The flov/ers in 

 South India are known as Madana-Kama-pu. This tree is the 

 Patalci or Patali of Sanskrit writers,* its flowers are said by the 

 poets to so intoxicate the bee, that he is unable to distinguish one 

 flower from anothei\ In the Xighantas, the tree bears, among 

 other synonyms, those of Kama-duti (Cupid's Messenger), Madhu- 

 duti (Messenger of Spring) Stahli, Ambu-vasini and Tamra-pushpa 

 (red-flowered). Patala also signifies " light red " or " rose- 

 coloured." 



* Pharmacographia Indica, ill., p. 20. 



