SAPINDACE^E 3H 



pairs the smallest, elliptic, entire, margin wavy, gla- 

 brous. Venation pinnate, secondary veins arched to- 

 wards the margin. 



Flowers small in long axillary spikes, shortly 

 pediceled, staminate or bi-sexual. Calyx cup-shaped. 

 Corolla absent, the whole space filled with a thick 

 yellow disc from which arise the seven (six to eight)' 

 stamens. Ovary three or four-celled, with one style, 

 and three-branched stigma. Fruit dry indehiscent.. 

 Seeds in fleshy aril, which is edible. 



The wood is heavy and close grained, and of a 

 red colour. 



SAPINDUS TRIFOLIATUS, L., the Indian soap-nut 

 tree. A tree with alternate, exstipulate, pinnate 

 leaves. Leaflets (not as a rule, three as the name 

 implies but four or more) elliptic or oblong, acuminate 

 or emarginate, generally entire, coriaceous. Flowers in 

 terminal or axillary, polygamous panicles. Sepals five,, 

 petals five, with scales fringed with long white hairs : 

 with a prominent concave disc surrounding the stamens. 

 Stamens eight. Ovary three-lobed with one style. 

 Fruit fleshy, the pericarp soapy. Seeds large, black,, 

 smooth and shining, with large white aril. 



S. SAPONARIA, L., the Soap-nut tree of the West Indies 

 is also grown in India. The leaflets are lanceolate, acute.. 



CHARACTERS OF THE SAPINDACE^E 



The SAPINDACE^ form a fairly large family scattered 

 over the world, and are nearly all trees and shrubs,, 

 though there is one herb. The leaves are exstipulate, 

 alternate, simple or compound. The flowers small 

 more or less regular, the sepals and petals being 



