124 DIPTEROCAEPACE.E. 



10 of Hopea ; 5 of Vatica ; and 4 of Valeria. Besids these, Blume has three 

 species for Java, probably belonging to Dipterocarpus. Roxburgh's Hopea 

 eglandulosa, constitutes a new genus, to be referred probably to Euphor- 

 biaceae or its neighbourhood. More than 2-3ds. of the species inhabit 

 mountainous or hilly parts of the two Indian Peninsulas. 



Almost every species of this order abounds in a balsamic resinous juice, 

 •well known under the common English names of Dammer and Wood-oil, 

 according to its hardening or continuing liquid, when exposed to the air. 

 That drawn from the Vaticas and Vaterias hardens and forms Dammer 

 and Piney ; that from the Dipterocarpi retains its fluidity, and is the 

 Wood- oil of the bazars. Some of the species produce a fragrant resin, 

 which is burnt in the temples as incense. Dammer is used in India for 

 most of the purposes to which pitch and rosin are apphed in Europe, 

 Wood-oil either alone, or thickened with Dammer. supplies a useful var- 

 nish for wood, possessing the valuable property of repelhng, for a long 

 time, the attacks of white ants, as weU as of resisting the influence of 

 the climate. {Wight.) 

 Vateria, L. {W. and A. pr. I, p. 83.) 



1. indica, L. {W. and A. I. c. ; — Wight ill. 1, t. 36 ; — Roxb. Coram. 3, 

 t. 288 ; /. ind. 2, p. 602 ;—J. Grah. Cat. B. pi. p. 22. Elaeocarpus 

 copalliferus, Retz.; — Rheed. 4, t. 15.) Piney Varnish tree. L. b Mala- 

 bar. Fl. middle-sized, white. In H. C. G. fl. H. S. ; fr. Aug. {Roxb.) 



Vateria indica produces the resin called in India, Copal, (in England 

 known by the name of Gum Anime) as very nearly approaching the true 

 resin of that name. {Lindl.) When recent, it is found from pale green to 

 a deeper amber colour, with all the intermediate shades. In some parts of 

 India, beads are made of such pieces as most resemble Amber beads, even to 

 being electrical, when excited by rubbing. {Roxb.) The resin is procured by 

 cutting a notch in the tree, sloping inwards and downwards. This is soon 

 filled with the juice, which in a short time hardens by exposure to the air. 

 When used as a varnish {Piney Varnish), the usual practice is to apply the 

 balsam, before it has become hard ; but when this cannot be procured, the 

 resin melted by a slow fire and mixed with boiling Linseed-oil forms a 

 varnish, which answers equally well for most purposes. The resin is on the 

 Malabar-coast also made into candles. While burning, these diffuse an 

 agreeable fragrance, give a fine clear light with little smoke, and consume 

 the wick so as not to require snufiing. {Wight.) 



2. lanccccfolia, Roxb. {fl. ind. 2, p. 601 ; — Wight ill. I, p. 88.) b As- 

 sam, Khassya Mountains. Fl. largish, white, fragrant. In H. C. G. 

 fl. April and May ; fr. July and Aug. {Roxb.) This tree yields a resin 

 like that of No. 1, from which the Indians prepare one of the mate- 

 rials of their religious oblations. {As. Res. 12, p. 539.) 



Vatica, L. {W. and A. pr. \, p. 84. — Shorea, {Rvxb.) 



1. robusta, W. and A. (Shorea robusta, Roxb. fl. ind. 2, p. 615 ; — Co- 

 ram. 3, /. 212.) Tfr Sal. L. b Morung, Nepal. Extends more nor- 



