346 PLATANEJE. [Platanu*. 



49 Ibs. It is used in Kashmir for boxes, trays, pen-cases and other articles, which are 

 lacquered and painted. It has a pretty grain and may be recommended for cabinet- work. 



Ibs. 

 H 922. Hazara 41 



ORDER XCIV. CASUARINACE.E. 



One genus, containing chiefly Australian trees, one species only extending north- 

 wards to India. Several other species, however, have been introduced and grown in 

 India. 



1. CASUAKINA, Linn. 



1. C. equisetifolia, Forster; Beddome ccxxvi. ; Brandis 485 ; Kurzii. 

 494. C. muricata, Roxb. Fl. Ind. iii. 519. The Beefwood of Australia. 

 Vern. Chouk, Tarn.; Serva, Tel.; Kdsrike, Mysore; Tinyu, Burm. ; Aru, 

 Malay. 



A large evergreen tree, with leafless drooping branches, and branch- 

 lets which are deciduous and perform the functions of leaves. Wood 

 white, brown near the centre, very hard, cracks and splits. Pores 

 moderate-sized, in radial and oblique lines. Medullary rays very fine, 

 uniform, equidistant. Numerous wavy, concentric lines, composed of 

 soft tissue atid minute pores. 



Coasts of Chittagong, Burma, the Malay Archipelago, North Australia and Queens- 

 land. Cultivated all over India, except in the North-Western portion of the Punjab. 



The growth is fast, our specimen shews 3 to 4 rings per inch of radius. From 

 Colonel Beddome's Report on the plantations in the North Arcot District, dated 

 December 30th, 1876, the measurements of trees in two plantations were 



Age. Height. Girth. 



Veeringapuram plantation . .4 years 32 feet 24 inches at 3 feet. 

 Trivellam . . 6 70-80 36-48 



which would shew an average growth of 1 ring per inch of radius, or a girth of 6 feet 

 at 22 years of age. 



The wood is hard and heavy, and difficult to cut, and according to Skinner, No. 42 

 weighs 55 Ibs. per cubic foot ; our specimen gives 62 Ibs. M. Sebert in ' Notice sur 

 les Bois de la Nouvelle Caledonie ' gives 63 Ibs. Skinner gives P = 920. It has been 

 largely planted in North Arcot, South Arcot, Madras and other districts of the 

 Madras Presidency for fuel, for which it is excellent, but it requires to be near the sea 

 coast and to have water at the roots, at least 10 feet from the surface of the ground. 

 Trees planted in sandy soil often suffer much from drought the first two or three years, 

 the taproot then finds its way down to about 10 feet and reaching water the tree begins 

 to thrive. It is of course best near the sea, but fine trees may be seen in places in 

 Northern India, especially at Saharanpur and Umballa. Casuarina seems to coppice 

 well, and undoubtedly is, in suitable localities, and considering its extremely quick 

 growth and the qualities of its wood, one of the most important trees we have for 

 fuel and other plantations. 



E 2465. Calcutta 62 



ORDER XCV. EUPHORBIACEJE. 



We shall here follow the nomenclature used in Miiller's and Boissier's Monographs 

 of this large Order in the Prodromus of DeCandolle, but adding as Sub-Orders the two 

 separate Orders described in Vol. XVI, viz., Dciplimphyllacece and Buxacece. 



The Order then contains 67 genera belonging to 9 tribes. It contains many 

 important species, though with the exception of Bischcffiu, and Briedelia and, of 



