148 XXXI. LEGUMINOSiE. [Dalbergia. 



plied by species of Dalbergia, chiefly by D. nigra, classed in the same section 

 as the Indian Sissoo and Blackwood (Bentham, Synopsis of Dalbergiese, Linn. 

 Soc. Jour, iv., Suppl. 5). 



1. D. rimosa, Eoxb. Fl. Ind. iii. 233 j Wight Ic. t. 262. 



A large shrub or small tree, glabrous. Leaflets 5-9, oval, 2-3 in. long, 

 acute at both ends, with numerous, prominent, parallel nerves. Panicles 

 terminal and axillary, lax, regularly dichotomous; flowers on short pedicels, 

 small, less than J in. long. Calyx supported by 2 obtuse bractlets, cam- 

 panulate, all teeth obtuse, shorter than the tube. Claws of petals very short. 

 Stamens 10, monadelphous. Ovary short-stipitate, ovules 1-2. Legume 

 2-3 in. long, 1 in. broad or less, 1 -seeded. 



Sikkim Terai, Assam, Kasia hills, and Silhet. Also in the Siwalik tract and 

 outer Himalaya west to the Jumna, ascending to 4000 ft., J. L. S. Fl. March, 

 April ; seed ripens Nov., Dec. 



2. D. latifolia, Eoxb. Cor. PI. t. 113; Fl. Ind. iii. 221; W. & A. 

 Prodr. 264; Wight Ic. t. 1156; Bedd. Fl. Sylv. t. 24. The Blackwood 

 or Rosewood tree of Southern India. Vern. Sitsal, Oudh ; SaJcsal, Sitsal, 

 Mirzapore distr. ; Shwham, Banswara ; sirras, sirsa, sissa, sissu, Mandla 

 and Chindwara distr. of C.P. ; Biti, Can. 



A large glabrous tree, with dark-purple heartwood. Leaflets 3-7, generally 

 5, alternate, broad-obovate or orbicular, obtuse or emarginate. Flowers 

 greenish or yellowish white, on slender pedicels as long or nearly as long 

 as the calyx-tube, in axillary, branched, and divaricating panicles. Calyx- 

 segments oblong or ovate, obtuse. Stamens 9, all united in a sheath, 

 open on the upper side. Ovary glabrous, with 5 ovules ; style slender, 

 nearly as long as ovary ; legume oblong-linear or oblong-lanceolate, 1-4- 

 seeded. 



Dry forests of South and Central India, frequently associated with Teak and 

 Bamboo in South India, also in the evergreen forests (Bedd.), extending north to 

 the Satpura range, Bandelkhand, and the Malwa plateau (Bassi in Meywar). 

 Also in the An damans, in lower Bengal, Behar, in Sikkim at the foot of the 

 Himalaya, and (scarce and small) in the Baraitch and Gonda forests of Oudh, 

 along the base of the hills. Old leaves are shed Feb., March, new leaves appear 

 in April. The flowers appear with the young foliage, or before the old leaves 

 fall ; the pods ripen from Oct. -Feb. 



In South India and the Godavery forests (Ahiri), a large tree 60-80 ft. high, 

 with an erect, but not generally straight or regular trunk to 20 ft. girth. In 

 North India a moderate-sized or small tree. Numerous thick branches, spread- 

 ing into a large shady crown. Branchlets grey, bark of trunk |-1 in. thick, 

 cinereous, less rough than the bark of Sissoo. Foliage fine glossy dark green. 

 Coppices well, and propagates itself readily by self-sown seed. Easily raised 

 from seed, but of slow growth, especially while young ; 5-9 rings per in. of radius. 



Sapwood large, whitish ; heartwood with an irregular outline, from deep nut- 

 brown to blackish purple, with white or purplish veins and streaks of lighter 

 colour, and small whitish specks ; fine-grained, strong, and heavy. The aver- 

 age weight of seasoned Blackwood fluctuates between 50 and 54.68 lb. ; the lower 

 figure is that given by Skinner, and the higher is the result of Baker's experi- 

 ments made with Malabar wood. In the Central Provinces list, however, the 

 weight is given at 66 lb. The average value of P. ranges between 722 and 





