MIMUSOPS.] SAPOTACE&. 13 



globose, few or 1-seeded, endooarp crustaceous. Seed ellipsoid, com- 

 pressed, albumen fleshy, cotyledons flat. Species about 30, in the 

 t ropical regions of both hemispheres. 



M, hexandra, Roxb. Cor. PL i, 16, t. 15; Fl. Ind. i, 233; F. B. Liii, 

 549 ; Watt E. D. ; Kanjildl For. Fl 219 ; Gamble Man. Ind. Timb. 450 ; 

 Cooke Fl Ecmb. ti, 92; M. indica, A. DC.; Brand For. Fl. 291; Ind- 

 Trees 425. Vern. khirni. 



A handsome evergreen tree, 50-60 ft. high. Trunk erect, the branches 

 forming a large ehady head. Bark blackish-grey, deeply furrowed. 

 Leaves 2 4 in. long, obovate or oblong, rounded c r emarginate at the 

 apex, cuneate at the base or occasionally rounded or sub-truncate, 

 coriaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, dark-green and shining above 

 paler beneath ; midrib impressed above, prominent beneath ; petiole 

 - in., glabrous. Flowers white, axillary, solitary or in fascicles of 

 2-6 ; pedicels stout, -| in., glabrous t r nearly so. Calyx-lobes usually 

 6, about y in. long, ovate, sub-acute, reflexed, usually somewhat rusty- 

 pubescent outside and with ciliate margins. Corolla % in. long ; lobes 

 usually 18, in two series, the 6 inner ones oblanceolate, the 12 outer linear. 

 Stamens 6-, anthers acute, as Icng as the filaments. Siaminocies 6, 

 alternate with the stamens, more or less denticulate, glabrous. Ovary 

 12-celled, hairy. Berry ^4 i l n &> olive-shaped, 1-seeded, reddish- 

 yellow when ripe. 



Forests in the Eheri district of N. Oudh, apparently wild (Duthie's 

 collector) ; also in Bundelkhand (Edgeworthj. Flowers in Nov. and 

 Dec. DISTRIB. : Cent, and S. India and in the dry region of Ceylon. 

 It is largely cultivated in India, and as far north as Multan and Lahore 

 The wood is hard, tough and very durable, and ip much used for oil 

 presses, house-building and in turnery. The bark is much sought after 

 for medicinal purposes, and trees are often greatly injured thereby. 

 The fruit is eaten, and an oil is extracted from the seeds. 



M. ELENGI, Linn. 8p. PI 349; Eoxb. ; Fl Ind. ii, 236; Royle HI. 263*, 

 Brand For. Fl 293 Ind. Trees 425; F. B. I. Hi, 548; Watt E. D. 

 Gamble Man. Ind. Timb. 449; E aw j Hal For. Fl. 219 ; Cooke Fl Bomb, 

 ii, 92 ; Prain Beng. PI. 649. Vern. M ulsdri A large very ornamental 

 glabrous evergreen tree with rough dark-grey bark. It is found wild 

 in S. India, Ceylon, Burma, Martaban, on the Shan Hills and in the 

 Andaman Islands. It is also cultivated at many places witbin the 

 area, and throughout the hotter parts of India. It differs from M. 

 hescandra chiefly in having 8 calyx segments and 8 stamens. The 

 small fragrant star-shaped flowers appear during March and April. 

 These are collected after they have fallen on the ground and are 

 made into garlands ; they are also used in native perfumery. The 

 wood is like tlat of M, hexandra, and is used for similar purposes. 

 The bark is much employed in native medicine. The f rnit is eaten 

 and from the seeds an oil is extracted. 



