Helicleres. ] STERCULIACE.E. 49 



3. HELICTERES, Linn. 



The genus contains, besides the common H. Itora, Linn., six other species, chiefly 

 small shrubs of Northern and Eastern Bengal and Burma, H. elongata, Wall.; Hook. 

 PI. Ind. i. 365, and If. spicata, Colebr. ; Hook. Fl. lud. i. 366, extending as far north 

 as Sikkim. 



1. H. Isora, Linn.; Hook. Fl. Ind. i. 365; Roxb. Fl. Ind. iii. 143; 

 Beddome xxxiii ; Brandis 34; Kurz i. 142. Vern. Maror-phal,jonkapkal t 

 k<i]ntii, bhendu, Hind.; Itoh, Godavari; Aifa, Gondi; Kori-buta, Kurku ; 

 anteri, Banswara ; Gubadarra, kavanchi, Tel. ; Kewan, maradsing, Bombay ; 

 Thoognaychay> Burin. 



A shrub with grey bark, wood white, soft. Pores numerous, small, 

 often in radial lines. Medullary rays fine and very fine. 



Sub-Himalayan tract from the Jhelum eastward, Bengal, South and Central India 

 and Burma. 



Growth moderate, 10 rings per inch of radius. Weight, 35 Ibs. per cubic foot. The 

 branches are used for fuel, fencing and thatching, and the bark yields a strong white 

 fibre made into coarse cordage and canvas for gunny bag.s (specimens from JBerar sent 

 to Paris Exhibition, 1878. C 987. Bairagarh Reserve, Alelghat). The fruit is remark- 

 able for its spirally twisted carpels ; it is used in native medicine. 



Ibs. 



C 2804. Melghat, Berar 35 



4. PTEROSPERMUM, Schreb. 



Twelve species of this genus occur in India. Of these, two are found in North- 

 West India, thrvie in North- East India, seven in Southern India and five in 

 Burma. They are, most of them, trees with handsome flowers and generally oblique, 

 leathery leaves. Three species are here deseribed. Of the remainder, P. lancecefolium, 

 Itoxb. Jb'l. Ind. iii. 163; Hook. Fl. Ind. i 368; Brandis 35 ; Kurz i. 146. Vern. San 

 kalla, Beng., is a large tree of the Sub-Himalayan tract from the Jumna eastwards 

 and of Eastern Bengal down to Ohittagong. P. Heyneanum, Wall., P. diversifolium, 

 Bl., P. reticulatum, W. and A., P. obtusifolium, Wight, P. glabrescens, W. and 

 A., and P. rubiginosum, Heyne ; Beddome t. 106. Vern. Kara toveray, Tinnevelly, 

 are trees of South India ; while P, cinnamomeum, Kurz i. 147, and P. javanicum, 

 Jungh., are trees of Burma. 



Wood reddish, moderately hard. Pores small and moderate-sized, 

 often in short radial lines. Medullary rays fine, closely packed. 



1. P. acerifolium, Willd.; Hook. Fl. Ind. i. 368; Roxb. Fl. Ind. iii, 

 158 ; Beddome xxxv ; Brandis 35 ; Kurz i. 145 ; Gamble 11. Vern. Kanak- 

 champa, Mus, Beng.; Hattipaila, Nep.; Gaik, Magh; Toungpetwoon, Burm. 



A tali tree, with thin, grey, smooth bark. Sapwood white; heartwood 

 soft to moderately hard, red. Pores scanty, small, oval or elongated, 

 generally subdivided, visible on a longitudinal section. Medullary ravs 

 fine, very numerous, undulating, not prominent, uniform and equi- 

 distant. Innumerable very fine transverse lines. 



Sub-Himalayan tract from the Jumna eastwards, Bengal, Chittagong and Burma. 

 Often planted for ornament. 



Weight, our specimens average 47'5 Ibs. per cubic foot. Wood somewhat resem- 

 bling Thitka, is worthy of notice; it is sometimes used for plan kin gin Bengal. Leaves 

 used as plates and for packing tobacco in Northern Bengal. The down on the leaves 

 is used for tinder and to stop bleeding in wounds. 



Ibs. 

 E 593. Khookloong Forest, Darjeeling Terai ..... 44 



E 3135. Sukna 48 



B 2510. Burma (1862) 51 



