Elceodendron.] XXIV. CELASTKINE^. 83 



young foliage issues in May ; the full-grown foliage is dark green and shining. 

 Fl. Feb. -June, the fruit ripening in April and May of the foUowing year. 



A moderate-sized tree, at times a shrub only, attains 30-50 ft. in the Oudh 

 forests, with an erect, symmetrical trunk, attaining from 3-8 ft. in girth, 

 numerous branches forming a close oval crown. Bark of trunk thin, 6inere- 

 ous, or ferruginous, smooth, with irregular longitudinal wrinkles, or dark and 

 scurfy. The wood is whitish or light reddish-brown, even, close, compact ; a 

 cub. ft. weighs 40-50 lb. when seasoned, and 60-65 lb. when green. Value of 

 P. 511 (Fowke), 513 (Skinner). Seasons weU, works easily, and is durable. 

 Is often beautifully curled and flaked, and takes a fine polish ; is used for 

 cabinet-work, and recommended for picture-frames. The root is believed to be 

 a specific against snake-bites, and the bark is used in native medicine, said to 

 be a virulent poison. The young tree is often attacked by an aphis, and in con- 

 sequence a saccharine matter is excreted on the leaves. 



4. HIPPO CRATE A, Linn. 



Climbing shrubs or trees, with opposite, entire or serrate, coriaceous 

 leaves. Flowers bisexual. Sepals 5. Petals 5, longer than sepals. 

 Stamens 3. Ovary S-celled. Fruit-carpels 3, distinct, each 1-celled, 

 laterally compressed, 2-valved, the valv«s navicular. Seeds 1-3, com- 

 pressed, erect, attached to the base of the capsule, the funicle dilated into 

 a broad wing. Albumen none ; cotyledons flat, oval ; radicle short, in- 

 ferior. 



Leaves 5-6 in. long ; capsule 3 in. long . . . 1. II. arborea. 



' Leaves 2-3 in. long ; capsule 1-14 ™- l<"ig • • • % H. ' " 



1. H. arborea, Eoxb. Cor. PI. t. 205 ; Fl. Ind. i. 167. 



A large climber, with long flexuose branches, wholly glabrous. Leaves 

 ovate, or ovate-oblong, shortly acuminate, serrulate, 5-6 in. long ; petiole 

 \ in. long ; main lateral nerves 6-8 pair, arcuate. Flowers yellow, in 

 axillary, pedunculate cymes. Capsules 1-3, at the end of terminal 

 peduncles, obovate-oblong, acute at both ends, 3 in. long and IJ in. broad, 

 thickly coriaceous, with numerous prominent longitudinal nerves. Seeds 

 2. Wing of seed tawny, ovate, l| in. long, smooth, corky. Seed f in. 

 long. Cotyledons greenish yellow, fleshy. 



Abundant in the mixed forests of Baraioh and Qonda in Oudh (R. Thomp- 

 son). Ascends the largest forest-trees, often enveloping them with its thick, 

 heavy foliage. Leaves renewed April, May. Fl. in July, and the fruit ripens 

 in April. 



2. H. indica, WiUd. ; Eoxb. Cor. PI. t. 130 ; Fl. Ind. i. 165 j W. & A. 

 Prodr. 104. — Vern. Kazurati, Bomb. 



A climbing shrub, wholly glabrous. Leaves ovate, acuminate, crenate, 

 2-3 in. long; petiole ^ in. long. Flowers rusty yellow, in axillary, 

 pedunculate cymes. Capsules oblong, striated, 1-1|- in. long, ^ in. broad. 

 Seeds 2, reddish brown ; wings membranous. 



South India, Bengal, Behar, and. probably Central India, Burma, Ceylon, 

 Indian Archipelago ; also in tropical Africa. Fl. Jan- April. 



