BEILSCHMIEDIA.] LAUEACEM. 



1. BEILSCHMIEDIA, Nees ; Fl. Brit. Ind. v, 121. 



Evergreen trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate or opposite, penni- 

 nerved. Flowers small, 2-sexual, usually in panicles. Perianth- 

 tube short ; lobes subequal. Stamens 9, perfect, those of the two 

 outer series with eglandular filaments and with the anthers in- 

 trorsely 2-celled ; those of third series with 2-glandular filaments 

 and with the anthers extrorsely 2-celled ; anthers of the inner- 

 most series replaced by ovoid or cordate staminodes. Ovary 

 sessile, free from the perianth, narrowed into the style, stigma 

 obtuse. Fruit an oblong ovoid or globose berry ; pedicel not or 

 slightly thickened, the perianth quite deciduous. Seed with a 

 membranous testa. Species about 20, all tropical. 



B. Roxbnrghiana, Nees in Wall. PI. As. Ear. ii, 69 ; Brandis For. 

 Fl. 378 ; Ind. Trees 528 ; F. B. I. v, 121 ; Watt. E. D. ; Gamble 

 Man. 559 ; Prain Beng. PI. 897 ; Haines For. Fl. Ch. Nagpur 151. 

 B. fagif olia, Nees ; F. B. I. v, 122. Laurus bilocularis, Roxb. FL 

 Ind. ii, 311. Vern. KonTiaia (Oudh). 



A large or medium-sized almost evergreen tree. Bark ash-coloured. 

 Branches many, spreading horizontally and forming a dense shady 

 head. Leaves coriaceous, 6-10 in. long, elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, 

 obtuse or bluntly acuminate, glabrous, dark-green and shining ; base 

 cuneate ; main lateral. nerves 6-12 pairs, prominent on both surfaces 

 and finely and distinctly reticulate#bet\veen ; petioles J-l in. long. 

 Peduncles axillary and from the base of the young shoots, a little 

 shorter than the petioles, pubescent, bearing a raceme or panicle of 

 6-12 flowers ; bracts ovate, caducous. Perianth 6-partite ; segments 

 spreading or refiexed, J in. long, linear- oblong, hairy on both sides. 

 Filaments hairy ; anthers bilocular. Berry 1-1 j in. long or more and 

 about 1 in. in diam., narrowly oblong- obo void, dark-purple when ripe 

 and covered with a whitish-grey bloom which is easily rubbed off. 



Forests of N. Oudh in the districts of Gonda and Bahraich, in shady 

 ravines (B. Thompson). Flowers Mar.-April when the old leaves are 

 falling. DISTRIB. : From Kumaon to Assam, Tipperah and Burma, 

 also in Ch. Nagpur. The wood is white rather hard and even-grained, 

 and is said to be used in Assam for making boats. I have not seen 

 the specimens from N. Oudh. 



