1G0 XXXI. LEGUMINOS7E. [Bauhinia. 



Dry forests of South and Central India, Burma, Bengal, Oudh. Sub- Hima- 

 layan tract to the Ravi, ascending to 5000 ft. in Kamaon. Old leaves are shed in 

 Dec, or later ; the new foliage appears between March and June. Fl. March- 

 June ; the pods ripen Nov. -March. 



A small, crooked, bushy tree, 15-20 ft. high, branchlets drooping. Bark 1 in. 

 thick, rough, with exfoliating quadrangular scales, dark grey or brown. Inner 

 bark bright red, fibrous. Wood reddish brown, heart small, irregularly shaped, 

 of a darker colour. R. Thompson makes the weight of the seasoned wood (C. 

 Prov.) 56 lb. per cub. ft. Rope, strong and durable, is made from the inner 

 fibrous bark ; also slow-matches for matchlock-men. 



3. B. purpurea, Linn. ; Eoxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 320 ; W. & A. Prodr. 296. 

 Sans. Kharvallika. Vern.* Koldr, kardr, kardlli, Pb. ; Kolidr, kanidr, 

 kandan, khairwdl, N.W.P. ; Kwillar, Oudh ; Kodwari, Gonds, C.P. 



A tree. Nearly glabrous ; young branches, inflorescence, and calyx 

 covered with brown pubescence. Leaves coriaceous, cordate at base, as long 

 as broad ; leaflets united to the middle, or a little beyond, 4-5-nerved, the 

 inner edges often overlapping. Racemes paniculate. Flowers of a deep 

 rose-colour, pedicels in the axils of triangular bracts, with a pair of subu- 

 late bracteoles in the middle. Calyx cleft to the base of the limb into 

 2 reflexed segments, the one emarginate, the other 3-toothed, sometimes 

 cohering at the apex. Petals oblong-lanceolate, narrowed at the base, 1-2 

 in. long. Fertile stamens 3, occasionally 4, long, ascending. Ovary hairy, 

 stalk cohering on one side with calyx-tube. Legume 6-12 in. long, linear, 

 flat, pointed. B. triandra, Roxb., with white flowers, is probably a 

 variety of B. purpurea. 



Wild in dry forests of most parts of India, as far west as the Indus, ascending 

 to 4000, and at times to 5000 ft, also in Burma. Often associated with Sal and 

 Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus). Cultivated throughout India. Particularly 

 fine in the Kotree Doon and the Patlee Doon, and their side valleys ; also in 

 the Sal forests of the Meikla range, C. Prov. In North- West India fl. from 

 Sept.-Nov. Pods ripen Jan.-April. 



A moderate-sized tree, to 40 ft. high, with a short trunk attaining a girth of 

 6-9 ft. Bark \ in. thick, smooth, or rough, with rounded exfoliating scales, 

 whitish, ash-coloured, or dark brown. Heartwood of a handsome yellowish or 

 reddish brown colour, hard, close-grained, durable. Sapwood liable to be at- 

 tacked by insects. Employed for agricultural implements, and in construction 

 when found sufficiently large. The cub. ft. of seasoned wood weighs 39 lb., 

 of green wood, 45-48 lb. ; value of P. 567 (Skinner). 



The bark is used for tanning, the leaves are lopped for cattle-fodder, the 

 flower-buds are pickled and eaten as a vegetable. 



4. B. variegata, Linn. ; Roxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 319 ; W. & A. Prodr. 296. 

 Sans. Koviddra, kdnchandra. Vern. Kachndr, North and Central 

 India ; Kolidr, kurdl, karal, padridn, Pb. ; Khzvairal, guridl, gwiar, 

 baridl, N.W.P. 



A tree, young branches, under side of leaves, inflorescence, and calyx 

 with short pubescence. Leaves with cordate or rounded base, as broad 

 as long ; leaflets connate beyond the middle, with 5-7 nerves. Racemes 



The vernacular names of B. purpurea and variegata demand further inquiry. 



I 



