712 TREES OF NORTH AMERICA 



Sapindus is widely distributed through the tropics, especially in Asia, occasionally ex- 

 tending into colder regions. About forty species have been distinguished; of these three 

 are found within the territory of the United States. 



Sapindus contains a detersive principle which causes the pulp of the fruit to lather in 

 water, and makes it valuable as a substitute for soap. The bark, which is bitter and as- 

 tringent, has been used as a tonic. The seeds of several of the species are strung for chap- 

 lets and bracelets and are used as buttons. 



The generic name, from sapo and Indus, refers to the detersive properties and use of the 

 first species known to Europeans, a native of the West Indies. 



CONSPECTUS OF THE SPECIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Leaves persistent. 



Rachis of the leaf interrupted-winged, with usually broad wings; leaflets 4-9, oblong- 

 lanceolate and acute to elliptic-ovate or oblong, tomentulose below; petals without 

 scales; fruit globose, orange-brown. 1. S. saponaria (D). 



Rachis of the leaf without wings narrow-margined or marginless; leaflets 7-13, oblong- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, often somewhat falcate, glabrous below; petals with scales; 

 fruit somewhat oblong, dorsally keeled, yellow. 2. S. marginatus (C). 



Leaves deciduous, their rachis without marginal borders; leaflets 8-18, lanceolate, mostly 

 falcate, soft-pubescent or ultimately glabrous below; petals with scales; fruit globose, 

 not keeled, turning black in drying. 3. S. Drummondii (C, E). 



1 . Sapindus saponaria L. 



Leaves 6'-7' long, with a broad winged rachis, the wings narrow and often nearly ob- 

 solete below the lowest pair of leaflets, and sometimes nearly \' wide below the upper 

 pair, and usually 7-9 elliptic to oblong-lanceolate leaflets, rounded or slightly emargi- 



Fig.640 



nate at apex, gradually narrowed at base and very short-petiolulate, soft-pubescent on 

 the lower surface when they unfold, and at maturity rather coriaceous, yellow-green, 

 paler and tomentulose below, prominently reticulate- venulose, 3 '-4' long and 1^' wide, 

 with a yellow midrib and primary veins, those of the lowest pair smaller than the others ; 

 rarely reduced to a single leaflet. Flowers appearing in Florida in November, usually pro- 

 duced 3 together on short pedicels, in terminal panicles 7'-10 / in length, with an angulate 

 peduncle and branches; calyx-lobes acute, concave, ciliate on the margins, the 2 outer 

 rather smaller than those of the inner rank, much shorter than the white, ovate, short- 

 claw^ petals, without scales, rounded at apex and covered, especially toward the base, 



