240 XXXVIII. LYTHRAUIK.K. [Lagerstrccmia. 



and axe-handles are made of it. A sweet gum exudes from wounds in tne oark, 

 and is eaten. Bark and leaves are extensively employed for tanning. 



L. lanceolata, Wall. ; Bedd. Fl. Sylv. t. 32. Vern. JSandara, nandi, nana, 

 nani, Western Ghats, a common tree in the forests on the west side of the 

 Peninsula as far north as Khandeish, is similar to L. parviflora, but is readily 

 distinguished by petiolate, ovate, acuminate leaves, which are bluish white be- 

 neath ; larger flower-panicles, the calyx and pedicels clothed with dense grey 

 pubescence, calyx-segments reflexed, and small capsules \-\ in. long. (The 

 large capsules figured by Beddome do not apparently belong to this species.) 



L. indica, Linn. ; Wight 111. t. 86 ; a handsome shrub from China, with 

 large white or purple flowers ; petals long-clawed and much curled. Is culti- 

 vated in gardens. 



L. Begins, Roxb. Cor. PL t. 65 ; Bedd. Fl. Sylv. t. 29 ; is a large, bulky, 

 and valuable timber-tree with large showy lilac flowers, in moist forests of Eastern 

 Bengal, Burma, the western coast of the Peninsula, and at the foot of the Ghats, 

 extending north as far as the Ratnagiri district, where it is called Taman. 

 Vern. Jarul, Bengal. Ppmma, Burm. It differs from the three first-named 

 species by the calyx longitudinally ribbed and furrowed, by all stamens being 

 of equal length, and a large 6-celled ovoid or globose capsule. The wood is 

 red, not heavy, and fairly strong, the cub. ft. weighs between 36 and 47 lb., and 

 the average value of P. ranges from 600-850. It is used extensively for ship- 

 building at Chittagong, and in Burma. 



4. PUNICA, Linn. 



Ovary inferior ; calyx coriaceous, persistent, prolonged above the ovary, 

 free part campanulate, cleft into 5-7 valvate lobes. Petals as many as 

 calyx-lobes, inserted at the moutli of the calyx-tube, crumpled in bud. 

 Stamens numerous, inserted at different heights below the petals ; fila- 

 ments distinct ; anther-cells attached to a large ovoid connective. Style 

 filiform : stigma capitate. Fruit large, globose, crowned by the somewhat 

 tubular limb of the calyx, indehiscent, divided in 2 tiers or divisions, the 

 lower 3-celled, the upper 5-9-celled ; dissepiments membranous ; placentas 

 in the lower division at the bottom of the cells, in the upper stretching 

 from the side of the fruit to the middle. Seeds numerous, nestling in a 

 pellucid pulp. Embryo oblong ; radicle short, acute ; cotyledons folia- 

 ceous, spirally convolute. 



The structure of the fruit is remarkable. The bud in its youngest state 

 shows a thick concave disc, closed by the valvate sepals or calyx-lobes. 

 At the bottom of the disc appear the carpels, in two circles ; at its edge 

 the petals, alternating with the calyx-lobes, and the space between petals 

 and carpels is occupied by numerous rows of stamens. The carpels of the 

 outer circle appear first, they are 5-9 ; the number of the inner carpels is 

 generally 3, sometimes 5. These carpels coalesce, and the upper portions 

 uniting, form the style. Each carpel has numerous ovules, which origin- 

 ally appear at the bottom of its cavity. Meanwhile the sides of the con- 

 cave disc keep on growing, finally the outer carpels are raised, and form 

 the upper division of cells in the fruit, while those of the inner ring re- 

 main at the bottom, and form the lower tier or division. The position of 

 the placentas also is somewhat changed through the expansion and altered 

 position of the carpels. The ripe Pomegranate may be compared to the 



