DesmoditiM.] LEOIMIX 121 



2. D. Cephalotes, Wall.; Hook. Fl. Ind. ii. 1G1 ; Beddome Ixxxvii.; 

 Kurz i. 386; Gamble 26. lledt/xu nun Cephalotes and UHitjcllatuw, Roxb. 

 Fl. Ind. iii. 360. Verii. Bodlewrv, Nep. ; M&niphtyol } Lepcha ; C/u'tta/- 

 ta, Tel. 



A shrub with grey bark and yellowish wood, which in struct u:-; 

 resembles that of D. iilia/olium. 



Eastern Himalaya, South India and Burma. 

 E 3281. Dainah Reserve, Western Duars. 



Abrns contains:} species, of which A. />/-<'<-itf<>/-i*\ Linn.; Hook, Kl. Ind. ii. 17-'* . 

 Roxb. Fl. Ind. iu. 368; Brandis 139. Vern. Gumhi, rakfi. Hind.; J/t/.v/>^/, Xrj< ., 

 is ;i wiry climber, whose seeds (rakti) are used as weights by jewellers ; they weigh 1 

 to 2 grains each. 



Mucuna contains several large climbers of Bengal and Burma, amjng which the 

 chief are M, imbricata, DC. Vern. Kasi, Beng., with large plaited pod, covered 

 with stinging hairs (No E 483 Darjeeling Terai), and soft, very porous wood; M. 

 mi(croc<(rj>tr, Wall. ; Gamble 28. Vern. Salengra, Nep., an enormous climber of the 

 hills of Sikkiin, Khasia, Sylhet and Burma up to 7,000 feet; and M. pruricns, Dt\ 

 The Cowhnge Plant. Vern. Alkusd, Beng. ; Kiivach, goncha, Hind. ; Kouatch, Nep., 

 which is au annual climber, well known in the forests from its golden brown, velvety 

 pod, covered with irritating hairs, which are used as a vermifuge. 



7. ERYTHRINA, Linn. 



Contains 7 species of Indian soft- wooded, handsome-flowered, deciduous trees. 

 E. ovalifolia, Roxh. Fl. Ind. iii. '254 ; Hook. Fl. Ind. ii. 189 ; Beddome Ixxxviii. ; Kurz i. 

 367. Vern. Hari-Jcekra, Beng.; Kone kathit, Burin., is a tree of the coast i'< 

 of Chittagong, Arracan and Pegu, extending northwards to Sylhet and Assam. _'. 

 lithosperma, Miq. Vern. Yca-kathit, Burin, and E. holosericea, Kurz i. 3(57. are 

 trees of Burma, while E. renyrinafa, Roxb. Fl. Ind. iii. 257 ; Brandis 141, is a herb- 

 aceous plant from a perennial root-stock found in the grass lands of the Himalayan 

 Terai. 



Wood soft; no heartwood. Pores largo, medullary rays broad. 

 Numerous concentric bands of soft texture, which, as a rule, have no 

 connection with the pores. 



I.E. Sllberosa, Roxb. Fl. Ind. iii. 253; Hook. Fl. Ind. ii. 189; 

 Beddome Ixxxvii. ; Brandis 110 ; Kurz i. 369 ; Gamble 27. Vern. Pangra, 

 dauldJidk, rungra, rowan-ray nasut, maddra, Hind.; (jidnashtar, paridrn, 

 l/iubj Pb. ; FnlluUia, Nep. ; Aland at, Garo ; Katiang, Lepeha ; Muni, 

 mndnga, Tarn.; Midn moduffti, Tel.; Pkatufera, Gondi ; Gada p/iassa, 

 Kurku. 



A moderate-sized deciduous tree. Outer bark corky, light grey, with 

 deep, irregular, vertical cracks, varying in thickness up to 1 inch ; inner 

 bark fibrous, inch thick. Wood very soft, spongy, white, fibrous 

 but tough ; that near the centre of darker colour, but no regular heart- 

 wood. Annual rings visible. Pores very large, scanty, often subdivided. 

 Medullary rays short, broad ; the tissue between the rays consisting of 

 narrow, hard, wavy and often interrupted, concentric bands of a darker 

 colour, separated by alternate bands of white, spongy tissue. The tan- 

 gential section presents the appearance of anastomosing fibres. On 

 the radial section the medullary rays appear as long, wavy, shining hands, 

 giving the wood a handsome mottled appearance. Pores prominent on 

 a vertical section. 



