236 JO URNAL, BOMBA Y NA TUBAL HISTOR Y SOCIETY, Vol. IX. 



BARK — "1 inch thick, dusky grey, blackish with irregularly quad- 

 rangular plates, separated by narrow longitudinal and shallow, 

 irregular cross furrows or wrinkles, in old trees rough with exfoliating 

 scales." (Brandis' Forest Flora of N. W. and 0. India, page 125.) 

 " The inner substance of the bark contains," says Roxburgh, " in 

 crevices, a quantity of white* soft, almost insipid gum." He further 

 adds that " from wounds made in the bark, a dirty looking broivnish* 

 soft gum is procured, which dissolves slowly in the mouth." The 

 latter remark is nearer the truth, according to my experience. The 

 resinous exudation from the young fruit, however, is milk-white or 

 cream-coloured as it escapes ; it soon turns jet-black on exposure. 



THE WOOD, says Brandis, " is ash-coloured, reddish-white or 

 brown, even but open-grained." It is full of acrid juice which 

 causes swelling and irritation. " Timber-cutters," says Brandis, " object 

 to felling it unless it has been ringed for some time." It cracks in 

 seasoning ; is not durable and not much used. Weight, 42 lbs. per 

 cubic foot. Sap-wood and heart-wood not distinct (Brandis). I find 

 that under an ordinary magnifying glass the medullary rays are fairly 

 well distinct. Kurz observes that the wood is grey or reddish-white, 

 soft and useless. (Forest Flora of Burma, Vol. I, pp. 311 — 312.) 



LEAVES — Generally closely arranged at the extremities of the 

 branchlets ; simple, alternate, very coriaceous and flat ; very large, 

 9 to 30 inches long, 5 to 12 inches broad ; cuneate, oblong or obovate- 

 oblong, rarely linear-oblong. Margin quite entire ; cartilaginous ; 

 usually contracted below the middle, not unoften also above the 

 middle, giving the whole leaf a wavy appearance slightly. Apex 

 rounded, " blunt or mucronate," says Kurz. Base rounded, cordate 

 or cuneate. The surface is opaque above, and slightly pubescent, espe- 

 cially when young ; whitish or glaucous and thickly pubescent 

 beneath. Hooker says that the leaves are brown beneath. This 

 is not the case in the Konkan at any rate. Kurz observes that 

 the leaves of the shoots or young trees are not seldom elongate, and 

 cuneate-ob ovate with a sharp point. Nerves 16 to 25 pairs ; stout, 

 slightly arched, pale white. The entire net-venation is boldly promi- 

 nent and very coarse, especially on the under-surface, giving the 

 leaves a notably harsh feel. It is difficult to examine the 



* The italics are mine. — K. R. K, 



