228 XXXVI. COMBRETACE.E. [Anogtiisiis. 



Common and often gregarious in the deciduous forest of South and Central 

 India. In the sub-Himalayan forests west to the Ravi, ascending to 3000 ft. 

 Aravalli hills. (A variety with small silky-pubescent leaves, 1^ in. long, not un- 

 common in the Central Provinces.) Bare during most part ol the dry season. 

 From November the foliage begins to have a fine copper-tint, is generally shed 

 in February, and the new leaves come out in May. Fl. May-June, sometimes 

 later (Jan. Feb., Roxb.) The seed ripens Nov.-Feb. Coppices vigorously. 

 Suffers from frost. In January 1870, on the borders of Pertabgarh, south-west 

 of Nimach, I found that it had been injured a good deal, Acacia Catechu 

 had suffered less, and A. leucophlcea not at all. In North India attains 60-70 

 ft., with a tall, erect trunk, often deeply fluted, and 30-40 ft. to first branch, 

 girth 6-9 ft., in habit and appearance not unlike Lagerstrcemia parviflora. Bark 

 thin, smooth, white, greenish-white or cinereous, with slate-coloured patches. 

 Thin whitish flakes exfoliating. Inner bark purplish, compact. Wood light- 

 or dark-brown, variegated with darker veins, the centre wood of old trees often 

 very dark. A handsome wood, close- and even-grained, compact, hard, very 

 tough and elastic. A cub. ft. of the seasoned wood weighs between 57 and 65 

 lb., and 75-80 lb. while green. Its average transverse strength is given by 

 Skinner as P. = 1220, but other authors give a lower figure. Thus the average 

 of 3 experiments by Puckle (Mysore wood) is 870, and of 3 experiments made 

 by J. B. French at the workshops of the Madras railway was 752. The deter- 

 mination of the transverse strength, therefore, demands further experiments. So 

 much, however, is certain, that the wood is highly valued on; account of its great 

 strength and toughness. It is universally used for axe-handles, poles for carry- 

 ing loads ; in many parts of India the axles of native carts are made of it, which 

 stand heavy weights on rough roads* But it warps and splits in seasoning, and 

 unless kept dry is not very durable. It is used extensively for construction, 

 furniture, agricultural implements, and for shipbuilding. It is valued next to 

 Teak, Sal, Bija sal, and Asna. It makes good charcoal, and yields excellent 

 fuel. From incisions in the bark a fine white hard gum is obtained (dhauri- 

 ka-gond), similar to gum-arabic, employed in cloth-printing, like that of Odina 

 Wodier, and sold extensively. In Meywar and Kamaon the leaves are used for 

 tanning. 



2. A. acuminata, Wall. ; Bedd. Fl. Sylv. t. 16. Syn. Conocarpus 

 acuminata, Roxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 443 ; W. & A. Prodr. 316. Vern. Pachi 

 manu, panchman, paunchinan, Telugu ; Yungben, Burm. 



A large tree, with rough dark -grey bark and pendulous branchlets; 

 branches, leaves, peduncles, and calyx clothed with soft, adpressed to- 

 mentuni. Leaves subopposite, on short petioles, ovate- or oblong-lanceolate, 

 1J-2J in. long. Flower-heads solitary, J in. across, when in flower, on 

 slender, axillary, often reflexed peduncles ; sometimes branching, often 

 with a few small leaves or bracts. Free part of calyx-tube elongated, to- 

 mentose. Peduncles as long as or longer than heads. Fruit with wings 

 broader than long, glabrous ; edge of wings irregularly dentate ; persistent 

 calyx-tube hirsute, longer than fruit. 



* The carts, which carry timber and Bamboos from the Barreea forests to the great 

 timber-mart of Reyna near the Mye river, on the borders of Guzerat, have axles and 

 linch-pins of Dhaura, the boss, nave and fellies of Bia {Pterocarpus Marsupium), the 

 spokes of Khair {Acacia Catechu), the yoke of Teak, and the pole of Ougeinia dalber- 

 gioides. On the other hand, the carts which come up from the open country of Guze- 

 rat have axle and linch-pin of iron, the nave of Boliin (Soymida febrifuga), bound 

 with iron, and fellies, spokes, the yoke-pole, and platform of Babul {Acacia arabica). 



