176 XXXI. LEGUMINOSiE. [Albizzia. 



the Jumna. Ravines of the Maikal and Satpura range, of the Rewah hills, and 

 of the Barrea hills east of Guzerat. Never quite leafless ; the new foliage conies 

 out in April, May. Fl. May, June ; fr. Jan., Feb. 



Attains 60-80, and at times 100 ft. ; trunk large, erect, not regularly shaped, 

 girth 6-9 ft., at times much more. R. Thompson records specimens in the 

 Gonda forests of Oudh 100 ft. high and 19 ft. girth. Bark \ in. thick or less, 

 yellowish, or greenish white or grey, smooth, with narrow horizontal lines, 

 shallowly and distantly pitted by the falling of thin irregular scales. 



Sapwood large, often ^ of radius, yellowish white, not durable. Heartwood 

 light or dark brown, with broad wavy belts and patches of a darker colour, an- 

 nual rings very indistinct. Pores numerous, large, equally distributed. Straight- 

 and even-grained, seasons well, works freely, and is durable. Weight of cub. ft. 

 40-55 lb. seasoned, 70-80 lb. green, so that it loses nearly half its weight in drying. 

 Largely used for sugar-cane crushers, rice-pounders, wheels, agricultural im- 

 plements, bridges, and house-posts. It takes a beautiful polish, and, not being 

 heavy, would make a good furniture- wood. In times of scarcity the bark, mixed 

 with flour, has been used as food. The bark is also used for tanning. 



Easily raised from seed, and grows readily from cuttings. Growth very rapid, 

 more rapid than of Siris. In 12 years attains 3-4, and in 30 years 4-6 ft. 

 (North India). 



4. A. Lebbek, Benth. 1. c. 87 j Bedd. Fl. Sylv. t. 53 ; Boissier Fl. 

 Orient, ii. 639. Syn. Acacia Lebbek, Willd. ; A. speciosa, Willd. ; W. & 

 Prodr. 275 ; Mimosa Sirissa, Eoxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 544. Siris. Sans. Sirisha. 

 Vern. Siris, sirisha, shirish, sirin, sirij, sirai, kalsis, tantia, North and 

 Central India ; Serla, sirla, Banswara ; Harreri, Panch Mehals. 



A large tree with dark-grey bark. Extremities and leaves glabrous or 

 pubescent. Common petiole 3-12 in., a large gland near the base, and 1 

 or more interjugal glands ; pinnae 2-4 pair ; leaflets 3-9 pair, unequal-sided, 

 oblong, obtuse, subsessile, lateral nerves not prominent, veins reticulate. 

 Peduncles 2-4 in. long, in fascicles of 2-4 from the upper axils, 

 forming a short corymbose raceme. Flowers white, fragrant, glabrous 

 or pubescent, 1J in. long to the extremities of stamens, on pedicels 

 in. long. Calyx campannlate, less than half the length of corolla, with 

 short deltoid teeth. United base of filaments included. Legume 8-12 in. 

 long, linear-oblong, 2 in. at the broadest, of a straw-yellow colour, thin, 

 with 8-12 large, distant, prominent seeds. 



Indigenous in the forests of South India, the Satpura range, Bengal, and the 

 sub-Himalayan tract, extending west to the Indus, and ascending to 5000 ft. 

 Cultivated throughout the drier parts of India, in Egypt (avenues of Cairo), 

 Mesopotamia, in Afghanistan near Jellalabad, in tropical Africa, America, and 

 in Australia. Partially leafless for some time in the hot season, the leaves 

 are renewed in March, April, and sometimes there is a second flush in autumn. 

 The flowers chiefly appear in April, May, but often at other times. The pods 

 ripen in Sept., and remain hanging on the tree throughout the cold and hot 

 season. 



Attains 40-60 ft., with a girth of 6-8, and at times 10-12 ft. When planted 

 far apart as an avenue-tree, its trunk is short ; but, when drawn up by Bamboos 

 and other trees in the forest, it has a long straight stem. Bark | in. thick, 

 dark or brownish grey, rough with numerous, short, irregular cracks, and ele- 

 vated horizontal lines. Sapwood large, often occupying half the radius, whitish. 

 Heartwood dark reddish brown, darker, nearly black bands alternating with 



