XXXli " PROCEEDINGS. 



are armomatic and are used in rheumatism, while the roots and 

 bark are used in calculi. 



Poinciana regia, Vern. "Sandesra." Gold Mohur tree. The 

 most beautiful tree in India in my opinion,, and its various names 

 well become it, for it is indeed a queen of trees in its beautiful and 

 graceful green symmetrical fan-like arrangement of branches and 

 leaves which towards the end of the summer take the place of its 

 golden flowers. The flowers are of old gold or striped with red, 

 and the English name is the name of the only gold coin in India. 

 Covered with flowers two or three inches in size across, the tree is 

 indeed in May and June a veritable flame of gold and no descrip- 

 tion "on paper can equal the gorgeous look of one -of these trees in 

 full bloom. Siva is highly honored in this tree. 



Zizyphus jujuba, Vern. "Bhor." Jujube tree. Not a very 

 large tree, but a thorny one with small ovate leaves, dark green on 

 the upper surface and downy brown underneath. Flowers in 

 cymes, strong smelling and small; fruit the size and colour of a 

 yellow cherry. It is very common everywhere in the jungles, and 

 it is thought to be, as well as being sacred to Siva, the Siora of 

 the Koran, a tree which Mohammed in his miraculous night 

 journey found growing at the further limit of the seventh heaven. 

 The wood of the tree is poor, but the fruit is eaten raw, although 

 it is bitter. Many a time have I seen the natives collecting them 

 in abundance. It has mild medicinal properties as a blood purifier, 

 but otherwise there is nothing striking about it, end one might 

 easily pass the tree without noticing it. 



Jasmimum sanibac, Vern. "Mogri." Arabian Jasmine. A 

 shrub with oval leaves and racemes of opposite white flowers. 

 Fruit rather small, round, and black. One would always recognize 

 this as a variety of jasmine, and it is appropriately associated with 

 Siva in his reproductive energy, for the leaves are used as a 

 lactifuge ; the bruised leaves being applied to the breasts. It stops 

 the secretion of milk in cases of threatened abscesses and hence 

 women must bless Siva for having associated with him such a 

 remedy. 



Gardenia lucida, Vern. "Dekamali." English is Dikamali or 

 Gardenia. A large shrub or small tree with smooth shiny oval 



