" 



mcl/'na.] LX. VERBENACEiE. 



1470_; Bedd. Fl. Sylv. t. 253. Vera. Gumhar, Ichammara, kambhar, 

 humar, gambari. In Western and Central India : Sewan, sheivan. 



A middle-sized or large tree, pubescent. Leaves tawny tomentose 

 underneath while young, cordate or broad -ovate, acuminate, with a 

 rounded or cordate base, blade 4-8 in. long, 3-6 in. broad, petiole more 

 than half the length of leaf. Flowers pentamerous, yellow, tinged with 

 brown, in terminal and axillary racemiform panicles composed of lateral 

 cymes ; inflorescence, calyx and corolla clothed with dense soft tawny 

 tomentum. Corolla 5-lobed, 2-lipped. Drupe ovoid, smooth, yellow 

 when ripe, 1 in. long. 



A widely-spread tree through the greater part of India, Burma, and Ceylon. 

 In the sub-Himalayan tract it extends to the Chenab, ascending to 3000 ft. and 

 even higher, but is scarce in the Panjab. Grows on the dry hills of the Ara- 

 valli range near Ajmir. Not gregarious, and nowhere abundant. The leaves 

 are shed Feb.-April, the new foliage appears April- May. Fl. generally before 

 the leaves, Feb.-April. Fruit ripens May- June. Readily raised from seed, 

 growth rapid, 3 rings per in. 



Attains 60 ft. and 6 ft. girth in Oudh and Central India, but grows to be a 

 much larger tree in Bengal and Burma. Stem erect, attaining 30 ft. to the first 

 branch, not very regularly shaped. Bark grey, or greyish brown, smooth, or 

 scurfy, at last exfoliating in broad, irregular, thick, scurfy flakes, leaving exposed 

 the fresh, light-coloured, smooth surface. Branchlets ash-coloured, smooth, 

 with white specks. Wood whitish or pale-yellow, strong and close-grained, but 

 not heavy. 30-40 lb. per cub. ft. Does not crack, warp, or shrink in seasoning, 

 is easily worked, takes paint and varnish readily. Lasts well under water, also 

 in tidal streams, better than Teak (Roxb.) Highly esteemed for planking, fur- 

 niture, the panels of doors, carriages and palankins, well - work, for decks of 

 boats, for toys, lacquered boxes, and all kinds of ornamental work. The fruit is 

 eaten by the Gonds of the Satpura, who protect this tree near villages ; deer 

 feed on it. Fruit, root, and bark are used in native medicine. 



2. G. asiatica, Linn. ; Roxb. 1. c. 87 ; Wight 111. t. 174. 



A large branching shrub, with spinescent branchlets. Leaves ovate, 

 pubescent when young, glabrous afterwards. Flowers yellow, tetramer- 

 ous, in racemiform panicles at the ends of branches. Calyx and corolla 

 strigose with adpressed hairs. Corolla curved, infundibuliform, 1J in. 

 long. Drupe obovate, \ in. long. 



South India, Ceylon, and Indian Archipelago. Probably in the Central Pro- 

 vinces. Fl. nearly throughout the year. An excellent hedge-plant. 



4. PEEMNA, Linn. 



Shrubs or trees with opposite, undivided leaves. Flowers in a bracte- 

 ate terminal trichotomous panicle or thyrsus. Calyx persistent, truncate, 

 or with 2-5 short obtuse teeth, sometimes 2-lipped. Corolla tubular, 

 short, limb cleft into 5 or more, commonly 4, lobes, either nearly equal, 

 or 2-lipped, upper lip consisting of 1 (the largest and outer) lobe, some- 

 times emarginate or nearly bifid, lower lip 3-lobed. Stamens 4, didyna- 

 mous or nearly equal ; anthers rounded, inserted on the back, the cells 

 diverging at the base. Ovary 4-celled, 1 ovule in each cell ; style fili- 



