864 EUPIIORBIACE^. [Ricinus. 



Indigenous in Arabia and North Africa, cultivated throughout India and often 

 found run wild. 



Usually cultivated for the oil which is expressed from its seeds, and which is so 

 largely used for burning, for lubricating machinery and in medicine. 



It is also grown for its leaves, winch are used for feeding silkworms. The ' Eri ' 

 silk of Assam produced by Attacus Ricini fed ou the leaves of the castor oil plant, 

 gives a beautiful fine silk, used to make wearing apparel by the Assamese and Mechis. 



E 3277. Naltanpara, Western Duars. 



17. HOMONOYA, Loureiro. 



Three species. H.retusa, Mull. Arg. ; Beddome ccxii.; Brandis 445, is a small 

 shrub of river banks in South India. 



1. H. symphyllisefolia, Kurz; Gamble 71. Vern. Bajadanti, Nep. ; 

 Ching, Lepcha. 



A moderate-sized evergreen tree. Bark very thin, white or light 

 grey, peels off in thin flakes. Wood yellowish white, hard, smooth, 

 close-grained. Annual rings indistinct. Pores very small, numerous, 

 uniformly distributed, sometimes in radial lines. Medullary rays very 

 fine, very numerous. Few concentric lines (?). 



Damp forests of the lower Darjeeling Hills. 



Weight, -54 to 59 Ibs. per cubic foot. The section of the stem is very irregular, 

 presenting deep sinuosities. The wood is hard and tough, and is used for punting 

 poles by the Tista boatmen. It is recommended for trial as a substitute for boxwood. 



Ibs. 



E 496. Khookloong Forest, Darjeeling 54 



E 2429. Tista Valley, near Sivoke, Darjeeling ... .59 



2. H. riparia, Lour. ; Beddome ccxii. ; Brandis 445 ; Kurz ii. 401 ; 

 Gamble 71. Adelia neriifolia, Roxb. Fl. Irul. iii. 849. Verii. Kan- 

 ddgar, Kumaun ; Khola ruis, Nep. ; Mongt/tel, Lepcha ; Taniki, Tel.; 

 Sundeh, Gondi ; Jeljambu, Kurku ; Kat-alluri, Mai.; Homakha, yay-ta- 

 gyeeben, Burm. 



A small shrub. Bark brown. Wood grey or greyish brown, moder- 

 ately hard, close-grained. Pores scanty, moderately large, often sub- 

 divided. Medullary rays of two classes : few moderately broad and short, 

 and numerous long, fine rays, which, as a thin section, appear as a suc- 

 cession of small black cells. 



Rocky and stony river beds throughout India. 

 Weight, 40 Ibs. per cubic foot. 



lb. 

 E 3303. Sivoke, Darjeeling Teiai 40 



18. JATROPHA, Linn. 



About 4 species : J. Wightiana, 'Mull. Arg., is a small shrub of South India. 

 J. nana, Dalz., is an underuhrub of stony places in the Dekkan. J. alamlulift ra, 

 Jloxb. Fl. Ind. iii. 688; Kurz ii. 403 (Addalay, Tarn.; Neht-ainida, '1YU is a shrub 

 'uiiimon near villngi-s in M.-ngal and Burma. Tin- seeds give an oil whieh is used in 

 jui-<licine. J. multifida, Linn., the Coral Plant, is much grown in guldens for its hand- 

 some scarlet (lowers and deeply-cut leaves. 



