57 



in the Bayano basin, but it is ^jrobably Gommon on the Jacifio 

 watershed of Pana;3 . It divides the name of quira v;ith Pla - 

 tymisciujn jjQlystachyam , ynd other species of the same genus. 

 The wood is used to a limited scale only, in the manufacture 

 of furniture v;hen a heavy and resisting material is needed. 

 It is hard and fine grained, v/ith a dark brown heart. 



The ^luira 

 PlatymiSGium jpolystachyu m 3enth., 3eem. Jet. Voy. Herald 



III, pi. 21. 1853. 



Descri^.tion of the tree 



Deciduous, middle sized, fci'king low and forming a 

 rounded crown; bark grayish, rough on the trun/:, smooth and 

 densely set v;ith lenticels on the branchlets. Leaves Ojjoo- 

 site or 3-verticilate , imparipinnate , 3 to 5-foliolate, gla- 

 brous; stipules orbiculate, deciduous; leaflets membranous 

 cr leathery, the petiolules short, the blades ovate, rounded 

 at the base, bluntly acuminate, 5 to £,2 cm. long, 2 to 10 

 cm. bread, the terminal ones largest. Inflorescences race- 

 mose 15 to 20 cm. long, glabrous, geminate, appearing before 

 or with the new leaves, Flowers numerous, yellow, 13 to 14 

 mm* long; pedicels thread-like, 5 to 10 mm. long; calyx 

 campanula te, 6 to 7 mm. long, with irregular, minutely 

 ciliate teeth, and bearing at the base 2 small, ovate bract- 

 lets; standard suborbiculate, attenuate in a slender clawlet, 

 13 mm. long, 11 mm. broad; wings auriculate, ovate-elliptic, 

 12 to 13 mm. long, 4 to G mm. broad; carina! petals adhering 

 at the tip, about the same size and shape as the 



Descri|jtion of the v/ood 

 Sapwood usually thin and yellowish brown; heartwood reddish 



