92 TAMARINDUS INDICA 



perfect,, on rather long free filaments alternating with other rudi- 

 mentary ones at the summit of the sheath ; anthers oblong, 

 dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary on a stalk coming from the pos- 

 terior (superior) part of the calyx- tube, curved upwards, 1 -celled, 

 with numerous ovules ; style long, hooked. Fruit pendulous, pod- 

 shaped, slightly compressed, scarcely an inch wide, varying in 

 length from 3 to 6 inches, usually somewhat curved, nearly smooth, 

 pale chocolate brown, pericarp (epicarp) rather thin, indehiscent, 

 easily broken, filled with a firm soft pulp surrounding the seed- 

 cavities ; on the outer surface of the pulp run three tough, woody, 

 branching fibrous cords, from the base towards the apex. Seeds 

 2 to 8 (according to the length of the fruit), each lodged in a 

 cavity in the pulp lined with a tough membrane (endocarp ?), 

 somewhat quadrangular with rounded angles, flattened, with the 

 centre of each flat side marked with a large central depression, 

 smooth, purplish -brown, somewhat polished; embryo with large 

 thick cotyledons, which include the small radicle ; no endosperm. 



Habitat. This beautiful and useful forest-tree is now found in 

 all tropical countries, but Africa appears to have the greatest 

 claims to be considered its original home. On that continent it 

 is common in the districts of the Upper Nile, in Nubia and 

 Abyssinia, the central districts wherever explored, and the more 

 southern countries on both east and west coasts, Senegal and 

 Zambesi-land. The tamarind grows also throughout the Indian Pen- 

 insula and in the Philippines and Java, and has been collected in 

 tropical Australia and the Pacific Islands. In the New World it 

 has doubtless been introduced, but is now abundant in Jamaica 

 and other W. Indian Islands, Brazil, Central America, &c. It is 

 extensively planted in warm countries, not only for its fruit, but 

 for the scent of its blossoms, and as a shade-tree. Small speci- 

 mens may be seen in our stoves (where they flower but do not 

 produce fruit). 



Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., iii, p. 215; Benth., Fl. Austral., ii, p. 294; 

 Oliver, Fl. Trop. Africa, ii, p. 308; Lindl., Fl. Med., p. 266. 



Official Part and Names. TAMAEINDUS ; the preserved pulp of 

 the fruit, imported from the West Indies (B. P.). The pulp of 



