126 XXIX. ANACAEDlACEiE. [Manffifera. 



green, coriaceous, approximate near the extremities of branches, ohlong- 

 lanceolate, entire, the margins often waved ; petioles swollen at base ; 

 numerous arcuate lateral nerves, with shorter intermediate nerves. Panicles 

 large, erect, a little downy, with horizontal branches, and oval somewhat 

 concave bracts. Flowers pale yellow, strongly scented, male and bisexual 

 flowers on the same panicle. Sepals 5, oblong, concave. Petals ovate, 

 twice the length of sepals, with dark yellow or orange lines near the base. 

 Disc fleshy, 5-lobed, surrounding the ovary, and connate with its base ; 

 the stamens inserted between it and the ovary. Filament 1, subulate, 

 bearing an oval purple anther; sterile stamens 2-4, minute. Ovary ob- 

 liquely ovoid, with a lateral incurved style. The fruit varies in length 

 from 2-6 in., is compressed, generally yellow when ripe, with a more or less 

 flattened fibrous kernel, the radicle generally bent upwards. 



The Mango-tree, or wild forms which are closely allied to the cultivated 

 kinds, is indigenous in Burma, along the Ghats of the western coast (extending 

 northwards to Khandeish), in the Kasia hills, Sikkim, and in ravines of the 

 higher hills of the Satpura range. It is also believed to be wild in the sub- 

 Himalayan tract, in deep gorges of the Baraitoh and Gonda hills in Oudh, and 

 of the outer hills in Kamaon and Garhwal. Roxburgh, 1. c. 644, describes the 

 wild Mango of Silhet as M. sylvatica, with linear petals many times longer 

 than calyx, and a short, turbinate, slightly grooved disc. The Mango is culti- 

 vated throughout India, but west o^ the Ravi it almost disappears, except at a 

 few places in Mozaflfargarh, and about Sealkot. At Peshawar there are only 

 a few small trees with indifferent fruit, and it is very scarce further down in 

 the Trans-Indus territory. In Upper Sindh (near Sukkhur), the Mango is grown 

 in gardens and produces good fruit, but requires to be protected against frost 

 while young. In the outer N.W. Himalaya it is cultivated as high as 3500 ft. 

 In India, the Malayan Peninsula, and the Indian Archipelago, the Mango-tree 

 has been cultivated from time immemorial. It is also cultivated in other tropi- 

 cal countries, particularly in Brazil and the West Indies, but its introduction 

 into America is of comparatively recent date (1782 to Jamaica). The" young 

 foliage is purplish green, and comes out between Feb. and June. PI. between 

 Peb. and April, according to latitude, elevation, and locality ; the fruit ripens 

 between May and July. 



Attains 60-70 ft. in North India ; trunk straight, to 15 ft. girth, with a brojid 

 massive crown, giving dense shade. Bark §-1 in. thick, dark grey, brown or 

 blackish, rough with numerous small fissures and exfoliating scales. Wood dull 

 grey or dirty white, with darker streaks or patches, soft, open-grained, readily 

 eaten, by insects. The cub. ft. weighs 38-44 lb., P. between 463 and 678. In 

 old trees small distinct heartwood of dark brown colour (R. Thompson). Used 

 for planking, doors, and window-frames. Canoes and Massula boats are made 

 of it. Bark and leaves are used medicinally ; a gum issues from wounds in the. 

 bark, and Lakh is produced on the tree (in Sindh, in dry years). 



Mainly cultivated on account of its fruit. In North and Central India the 

 fruit of ungrafted trees is generally stringy, with a strong turpentine flavour. 

 It nevertheless forms an important article of food for large classes of the popu- 

 lation. The fruit of good grafts is excellent, soft, juicy and with a delicious 

 aromatic flavour. In Burma the' Mango is not generally grafted ; seeds of a good 

 kind, as a rule, produce good fruit of a similar description. This is a remark- 

 able fact, but it does not stand quite alone, for in other parts of India also it has 

 been noticed that the seed of good kinds produces the same variety without 

 grafting (Fimiiuger Gardening, 2d ed. p. 235). It is an interesting question, 



