254 FLORA OF MADRAS. [Dodonaea. 



dark brown, very hard and heavy and useful for tool-handles 

 and walking-sticks. Vern. Hind. Sanatta; Tarn. Virali ; 

 Tel, Kan. Bhandaru ; Mcd. Yrali. 



Blighia sapida, Koen., the Akee fruit, is occasionally culti- 

 vated in Madras Gardens. 



Family LI. SABIACEAE. 



Trees or erect or climbing shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple 

 or compound, stipules 0. Flowers small, hermaphrodite or 

 polygamous, usually panicled. Calyx 4-5-partite, imbricate. 

 Petals 3-5, equal or unequal, opposite to or alternate with the 

 sepals, valvate or imbricate. Disk usually small, annular. 

 Stamens 4-5, opposite to the petals, inserted at the base of or 

 on the disk ; all perfect or 2 only perfect and 3 without anthers. 

 Ovary 2-3-celled, compressed or 2-3-lobed ; styles 2-3, free or 

 connate or 0; stigmas punctiform; ovules 1-2 in each cell. 

 Fruit of 1-2 dry or fleshy, globose or compressed drupes. Seeds 

 compressed or globose, basil ar ; hilum broad ; testa membranous 

 or coriaceous ; albumen ; cotyledons often contorted ; radicle 

 deflexed. 



Stamens 4-5 all perfect and equal ; drupes compressed ; climbing 



shrubs with simple entire leaves 1. Sabia. 



Stamens 5, 2 only fertile, unequal ; drupes subglobose ; trees with 

 simple or pinnate leaves,, entire or serrate 2. Meliosma. 



1. Sabia, Colebr. 



Shrubs, sarmentose or climbing. Leaves alternate, simple, 

 entire. Flowers usually hermaphrodite, 2-bracteolate, axillary 

 and solitary or in axillary simple or panicled cymes, the bracts, 

 calyx-lobes, petals and stamens all opposite. Calyx 4-5-partite. 

 Petals 4-5. Disk annular, 4-5-lobed. Stamens 4-5, inserted at 

 base of the disk. Carpels 2, rarely 3, very slightly connate; 

 styles 2, erect, terminal, slightly connate ; ovules 2 in each carpel. 

 Fruit of 1-2 dry or drupaceous ripe carpels, usually compressed 

 and gibbous with a sub-basal style. Seeds reniform, testa 

 coriaceous; embryo curved. 



SABIA MALABARICA, Bedd. Ic. t. 177 ; F. B. I. ii. 2. 



W. Ghats, in the Palghat and Anamalai Hills at 3,000- 

 4,000 ft. (Beddome), 



