Derris.] LeguminoscB. 93 



pair and end one), i|-3 in., oval or ovate-oval, rounded at 

 base, obtusely acuminate, quite glabrous, rather thick, minutely 

 reticulate ; fl. on short ped., arranged in simple axillary 

 racemes often from the old wood and 4-6 in. long ; cal. finely 

 pilose, truncate with obscure segm., stam. monadelphous or 

 diadelphous ; pod rather over 1 in., as broad as long, nearly 

 circular, shortly apiculate, glabrous, veined ; seed solitary, 

 •A- in., kidney-shaped, compressed. 



Low country near the seacoast, chiefly in the dry region ; common. 

 Fl. March, August; pink. 



Found also in India, China, Polynesia, Trop. Australia, E. Trop. 

 Africa, and Madagascar. 



Though included in his Fl. Zeyl., where he referred it to the genus 

 Pterocarpus, Linnaeus never subsequently named this species ; he has 

 confused all subsequent writers by having quoted for it an old figure and 

 description of a Trop. American plant, Pterocarpus Draco. 



Hermann notices the use of this plant as a fish-poison, for which the 

 roots are still employed. The leaves turn yellow in drying. Ropes and 

 fishing-lines are made of the strong fibre from the stem. 



4. D. paniculata, Benth. injourn. Linn. Soc. iv., Suppl. 105 f i860). 

 Brachypterum Benthamii, Thw. Enum. 93. D. Benthamii, Thw. 

 Enum. 412. C. P. 2925. 

 Fl. B. Ind. ii. 242. 



A woody climber, with slender dark-coloured lenticellate 

 branches, young parts with fine fulvous pubescence ; 1-rachis 

 3-4 in., cylindrical, stiff, lflts. 3-7, 1-3 in., stalked, lanceolate- 

 oblong, obtuse, acuminate, twisted at apex, rounded at base, 

 glabrous, coriaceous ; fl. numerous, ped. about as long as cal., 

 panicles terminal, 4-8 in. long, much-branched, drooping, 

 fulvous-pubescent ; cal. pubescent, upper segm. absent, lower 

 triangular, obtuse, stam. monadelphous but the uppermost 

 partially free; pod i-lfin., oblong, compressed, apiculate, 

 finely fulvous-tomentose, 1-2-seeded. 



Dry region ; very rare. Uma-oya (Thwaites). It was also collected 

 by Walker, but the locality is not known. Fl. July ; very pale pink, 

 cal. red. 



Endemic. 



5. I>. oblong-a, Benth. in Jonm. Linn. Soc. iv., Suppl. 112 (i860). 

 [Plate XXIX.] 



Thw. Enum. 413 and (D. ovalifolia, Benth. var.) 92. C. P. 1493. 

 Fl. B. Ind. ii. 242. 



A strong woody climber, bark dark grey, smooth, with 

 large distant Icnticels, young parts puberulous ; 1. large, rachis 

 4-6 in., glabrous, Kits. 9-13 (4-6 pair and end one), stalked, 

 2-2\ in., lanceolate-oblong, acute at base, obtuse often cmar- 

 ginate at apex, glabrous, paler beneath, stip. conspicuous with 



