Swietenia.'] XXI. MELIACE^E. 71 



durable. The weight of Spanish, West India, and Honduras mahogany (sea- 

 soned), varies from 35 to 55 lb., and the value of P. from 425 to 637. The 

 quality of the wood of trees grown at the Botanical Garden, Calcutta, and 

 blown down by the cyclones of 1864 and 1867, was found excellent. In Bengal 

 the tree has rapid growth, and bears seed, though sparingly. About 40,000 tons 

 annually are imported into Great Britain from Honduras, Jamaica, and St 

 Domingo. 



5. SOTMIDA, A. Juss. 



Trees, with bitter bark and paripinnate leaves. Flowers bisexual, 

 pentamerous. Petals contorted in bud. Staminal tube cup-shaped, short, 

 10-cleft, each division with 2 short, fleshy teeth, the anther between them 

 on a short filament. Ovary 5rcelled, narrowed into a short style, with a 

 broad fleshy stigma; ovules numerous in each cell. Capsule woody, 

 5-ceUed, 5-valved, opening septifragally, the valves separating from the 

 dissepiments, which remain attached to the axis. Seeds numerous in each 

 cell, imbricated, with long wings above and below ; cotyledons foliaceous, 

 auriculate at base, the radicle pointing upwards, 



1. S. febrifuga, Juss. ; Bedd. Fl. Sylv. t. 8 ; W. & A. Prodr. 122.— Syn. 

 Swietenia fehrifuga, Willd. ; Eoxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 398; Cor. PL t. 17. 

 Bastard cedar, Indian redwood. — ^Vern. Rohan, roJiun, roTiin, rohni,rohini, 

 soymida. 



Glabrous; leaves abruptly pinnate, 9-12 in. long; common petiole 

 with a thickened base ; leaflets opposite, 3-6 pair, on short petiolules, 

 oblong from oblique base, obtuse, 2-4 in. long. Panicles terminal, the 

 main branches (in reality panicles from the axils of abortive, uppermost 

 leaves) starting at acute angles from axis, the secondary branches at right 

 angles ; pedicels short ; flowers greenish white. Bracts triangular. 

 Calyx deeply 5-cleft ; segments bioad, obtuse. Petals obovate, narrowed 

 into a claw. Capsule smooth, black when ripe, 1-2 in. long. 



Common in the forests of Central India. Its northernmost known points 

 are the forests of the Banswara State, in Rajputana, near the Mhye river, and 

 the hiUs south of Mirzapur. As far as is known at present, the range of the 

 tree does not extend beyond the 25th degree of N. lat. It is an important tree 

 in the dry forests of the Central Provinces and many parts of the peninsula. 

 Nearly evergreen. The young foliage issues in April and May, while part of 

 the old leaves are still on the tree. Fl. in April and May ; seed ripens, and 

 is shed ia July and August. 



A large tree, 70-80 ft., with a taU, symmetrical, straight trunk, attaining 

 a girth of 7-8 ft., with a large, rounded, dense head of nmnerou.s branches. 

 Bark of trunk dusky, very rough, exfoliating in large plates or scales. Heart- 

 wood distinct, bright red when fresh-cut, dark reddish brown when dry, close-, 

 straight-grained, and strong. Its weight, when seasoned, varies between 60 

 and 70 lb. per cub. ft, green 80-85 lb., P. 1024 (Skinner). Durable under- 

 ground I not much attacked by white ants. Easily worked and planed, takes a 

 fine polish, and being of a handsome grain and colour, seems well adapted for 

 ornamental furniture. Held sacred by Hindus in parts of South India. Em- 

 ployed for construction, well-work ; ploughshares are made of it, and pestles and 

 pounders for oil-seeds. The bark is bitter, and has been used as a substitute 



