2 I. DILLENIACE.E. [Dillenia. 



Ovaries 20. Fruit large, 3 to 4 in. diam., hard outside, fleshy inside, 

 with numerous reniforrn seeds embedded in a pellucid, glutinous pulp. 



Wild along the base of the Himalaya from Nepal to Assam, in Bengal, South 

 India, Ceylon, Burma, and the Malayan Peninsula ; cultivated in most parts 

 of India. Evergreen ; fl. June, July ; fruit ripens Feb. 



A middle-sized tree, with a short erect bulky trunk, branches spreading 

 into a broad rounded shady head. Bark of the trunk and larger branches 

 about j inch thick, coarse and brittle, internally reddish brown, outer surface 

 grey, shining, rugose, with many small cracks and exfoliating scales. 



Sapwood white ; heartwood light brown or pinkish white, close- and smooth- 

 grained, with numerous medullary rays close together, as many as 15 to 20 on 

 the quarter-inch, and large distinct annual rings. Weight of cub. ft. 41-45 

 lb. Made into gunstocks and helves, and in some places used in the construc- 

 tion of houses and ships. The rough old leaves, like those of other species of 

 D., are employed to polish ivory and horn ; the fleshy leaves of the calyx, which 

 surround the ripe fruit, have an agreeable acid taste, and are eaten raw or 

 cooked in curries, or made into sherbet. A palatable jelly is made from them. 



2. D, pentagyna, Eoxb. Cor. PL t. 20 ; W. & A. Prodr. 5 ; Bedd. Fl. 

 Sylv. t. 104; Hook. Fl. Ind. i. 38. Syn. D. augusta and D. pilosa, 

 Roxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 652. Colbertia coromandeliana, D.C. Vern. Aggai, 

 Oudh ; KaUai, C.P. ; Zimbyu?i, Burm. 



Leaves oblong-lanceolate, decurrent into short sheathing petioles, very 

 large, 1-2 ft. long, longer on shoots and young trees, denticulate, with 

 numerous parallel ribs, silky-downy when young, smooth and shining 

 when old. Flowers before the leaves, sweet-scented, on slender pedicels, 

 in loose fascicles on tuberosities along 2- or 3-year old branches, about 1 

 inch across or less. Sepals ovate-obtuse. Petals oblong, yellow. Outer 

 stamens erect, inner longer spreading. Ovaries 5. Fruit pendulous, size 

 of a gooseberry, the fleshy leaves of the calyx enclosing 5 small capsules, 

 which contain a soft transparent gluten. Seeds few. 



Along base of Himalaya from Oudh to Assam. In Bengal, Central India, 

 South India, and Burma. Sal forests of Oudh, and the Central Provinces on 

 low flat ground, not on the hills. Sheds its leaves in March and April, comes 

 into flower soon afterwards. Fruit ripens in May. 



A moderate-sized tree in North and Central India, with an erect trunk 4-5 

 ft. girth, and straggling long asceoding branches, with drooping ends. A 

 stately tree in the south. Bark of smaller branches grey, shining, subrugose, of 

 the trunk about \ inch thick, compact, brittle, internally red, externally 

 grey or pale brown, smooth, but with shallow depressions of irregular shape, 

 caused by the exfoliation of the outer layers. 



Wood hard, fibrous, porous, tough and strong, heavy and durable. Not easy 

 to work, apt to warp and crack. Weight 45-48 lb. Used for construction 

 and shipbuilding, for rice-mills ; the leaves are laid under grass thatch, and 

 are used as plates. Flower-buds and young fruit have a pleasant acid flavour, are 

 eaten, raw or cooked, in Oudh and Central Provinces ; the ripe fruit also eaten. 



3. D. aurea, Smith ; Hook. Fl. Ind. i. 37. Syn. D. ornata, Wall. PL 

 As. Ear. t. 23. Vern. Chainaggai, Oudh; Dheugr, Nepal; Byuben, Burm. 



Leaves on deep - channelled sheathing petioles, oblong or obovate, 

 9-15 in. long, remotely crenulate, the ends of the parallel side-ribs promi- 



ia. 



