Sideroxyl&n. pentandria monogyniA, 247 



sides channelled. — Leaves opposite-petioled, spreading, oval, a little 

 scalloped, above scabrous, below covered with whitish, rather soft 

 down they are larger at a distance from the flowers and on young 

 trees viz. from twelve to twenty-four inches long, and from eight to 

 sixteen broad. — Petiols short, thick, laterally compressed. — Panicles 

 terminal, very large, cross-armed ; divisions dichotomous, with a ses- 

 sile fertile flower in each cleft ; the whole covered with a hoary co- 

 loured, farinaceous substance. — Peduncles common, quadrangular; 

 sides deeply channelled, angles obtuse. — Bractes opposite, lanceo- 

 late, two at each sub-divisiou. — Flowers small, white, very numerous. 

 — Calyx and corol as described by Konig, only oftener six- than five- 

 cleft. — Nectary very small, frequently wanting.— Stamens often six. 

 — Germ superior, round, hairy, four-celled, with one ovulum in each 

 attached to the axis. Stigma two-cleft, divided, obtuse, spreading. 

 — Drupe within the enlarged, inflated, dry calyx, obtusely four-sided, 

 woolly, spongy, dry. — Nut exceedingly hard, four-celled, 8y,c. a3 ac? 

 curately described by Gaertner, Carp. i. 237. t. 7. 



The wood of this tree, the only useful part of it, has from long ex- 

 perience been found to be by far the most useful timber in Asia ; 

 it is light, easily worked, and at the same time both strong and du- 

 rable. That which grows on the mountains on the banks of the Go- 

 davi/ree, is beautifully veined, and considerably closer in the grain, 

 and heavier than any other I have seen. It is therefore particularly 

 lit for furniture, gun carriages, &c. For ship building it is reckon- 

 oned superior to every other sort of wood ; being light, strong, and 

 very durable, either in or out of the water. 



Pegu produces the largest quantity, and their large rivers enable 

 the natives to bring it down to the sea porta from the interior moun- 

 tainous parts of the country, where it grows, at a cheap rate; which 

 enables them to sell it lower than in any other part of India. 



SlDEROXYLON, Schreb gen. S. 357. 



Calyx five-cleft. Corol rotate, five-cleft. Nectary five-leaved, 



Bra 



