Ficus.] URTICACEM. 151 



rotund, entire, narrowed upwards and with the apex produced into 

 a linear-lanceolate tail the whole length of the blade ; base broad, 

 rounded o'r truncate, or sometimes in young leaves cordate ; 5-7 

 nerved ; main lateral nerves about <S pairs, with fine reticulations 

 between ; petioles 3-4 in. long, slender, terete ; stipules minute, 

 ovate, acute. Receptacles in pairs, axillary, sessile, smooth, depres- 

 sed-globose, \ in. in diam., dark-purple when ripe ; basal bracts 3, 

 broad, spreading, coriaceous. MALE FLOWERS few, only near the 

 mouth of some receptacles, absent in others, sessile. Sepals 3, 

 broadly ovate. Stamen 1, filament short. Gall and fertile flowers 

 sessile or pedicelled, the gall flowers predominating, many without a 

 perianth. Sepals 5, lanceolate. Style short, lateral, stigma rounded. 



Very common within the area, but chiefly planted in villages and in 

 the vicinity of Hindu temples. Probably wild on the 8iwalik range 

 and in the forests of the Sub-Himalayan tracts. The tree is leafless 

 for a few weeks only, the new foliage appearing in Feb., and the 

 receptacles ripen during April and May. DISTRIB. : Sub-Hima- 

 layan forests from the Punjab eastwards, also in Bengal, Orissa, 

 the Circars and Central India. In other parts of India it has been 

 planted or has run wild. On the Himalaya it occurs as a planted tree 

 up to 5,000 ft. In Ceylon and Burma it was introduced by Bud- 

 dhists, by whom and by all Hindus the tree is held very sacred. On 

 this account it is often very difficult to insist upon the removal of 

 the trees from the forests where they do very much damage as epiphy- 

 tes. Buildings are also liable to serious injury by the growth of 

 seedling plants. The trees are much lopped, chiefly by Muhamme- 

 dans, in order to obtain fodder for their cattle, elephants and camels. 

 The greyish wood is moderately hard and is sometimes used for 

 making packing-cases or burnt for charcoal. The leaves, bark and 

 fruit are used medicinally. 



7. F. Rumphii, Blums Bijdr. 437 ; King Sp. Fie. 54, t. 67B. ; 

 F. B. I. v, 512 ; Watt E. D. ; KanjUal For. Fl. (ed. 2), 371 ; Gamble 

 Man. 644 ; Collett FL Siml. 459 ; Prain Bang. PL 980 ; Cooke FL 

 Bomb, ii, 648 ; Brandis Ind.. Trees 601 and 717. F. cordifolia, 

 Roxb. FL Ind. Hi, 548 (not of Blume) ; Brandis For. FL 416, t. 

 48. Vern. Khobar gajiun, (Hind.), pilkhan (Punj.), ganiper 

 (Oudh), 'pards-pipal (Merwara). 



A moderate-sized deciduous tree, usually epiphytic in early life ; all 

 parts glabrous ; bark yellowish -grey, smooth. Leaves subcoria- 

 ceous, glabrous and shining, 3-6 in. long, broadly ovate and with ao 



