160 XXXI. LEGUMINOS^. [Bauhinia. 



Dry forests of South and Central India, Burma, Bengal, Oudh. Sub-Hima- 

 layan tract to the Ravi, ascending to 5000 ft. in Kamaon. Old leaves are shed in 

 Dec, or later ; the new foliage appears between March and June. Fl. March- 

 June ; the pods ripen Nov. -March. 



A small, crooked, bushy tree, 15-20 ft. high, branchlets drooping. Bark 1 in. 

 thick, rough, with exfoliating quadrangular scales, dark 'grey or brown. Inner 

 bark bright red, fibrous. Wood reddish brown, heart small, irregularly shaped, 

 of a darker colour. R. Thompson makes the weight of the seasoned wood (0. 

 Prov.) 56 lb. per cub. ft. Rope, strong and durable, is made from the inner 

 fibrous bark ; also slow-matches for matchlock-men. 



3. B. purpurea, Linn. ; Eoxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 320 j W. & A. Prodr. 296. 

 — Sans. Kharvallika. Vern.* Koldr, Teardr, kardlK, Pb. j Kolidr, Tcanidr, 

 Icandan, khairwdl, N.W.P. ; Kioillar, Oudh ; Kodwari, Gonds, C.P. 



A tree. ITearly glabrous ; young branches, inflorescence, and calyjc 

 covered with brown pubescence. Leaves coriaceous, cordate at base, as long 

 as broad ; leaflets united to the middle, or a little beyond, 4-5-nerved, the 

 inner edges often overlapping. Eaeemes paniculate. Flowers of a deep 

 rose-colour, pedicels in the axUs of triangular bracts, with a pair of subu- 

 late bracteoles in the middle. Calyx cleft to the base of the limb into 

 2 reflexed segments, the one emarginate, the other 3-toothed, sometimes 

 cohering at the apex. Petals oblong-lanceolate, narrowed at the base, 1-2 

 in. long. Fertile stamens 3, occasionally 4, long, ascending. Ovary hairy, 

 stalk cohering on one side with calyx-tube. Legume 6-12 in. long, linear, 

 flat, pointed. B. triandra, Eoxb., with white flowers, is probably a 

 variety of B. purpurea. 



Wnd in dry forests of most parts of India, as far west as the Indus, ascending 

 to 4000, and at times to 5000 tt., also^in Burma. Often associated with Sal and 

 Bamboo {Bendrocalamus strictus). Cultivated throughout India. Particularly 

 fine in the Kotree Doon and the Patlee Doon, and their side valleys ; also in 

 the Sal forests of the Meikla range, C. Prov. In North-West India fl. from 

 Sept.-Nov. Pods ripen Jan.-AprU. 



A moderate-sized tree, to 40 ft. high, with a short trunk attaining a girth of 

 6-9 ft. Bark \ in. thick, smooth, or rough, with rounded exfoliating scales, 

 whitish, ash-coloured, or dark brown. Heartwood of a handsome yellowisji or 

 reddish brown colour, hard, close-grained, durable. Sapwood liable to be at- 

 tacked by insects. Employed for agricultural implements, and in construction 

 when found sufficiently large. The cub. ft. of seasoned wood weighs 39 lb., 

 of green wood, 45-48 lb. ; value of P. 567 (Skinner). 



The bark is used for tanning, the leaves are lopped for cattle-fodder, the 

 flower-buds are pickled and eaten as a vegetable. 



4. B. variegata, Linn. ; Eoxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 319 ; W. & A. Prodi. 296. 

 — Sans. Koviddra, Ttdnchanara. Vem. Eocjinar, North and Central 

 India ; Kolidr, Jcurdl, karal, padridn, Pb. ; Khioairal, guridl, gwiar, 

 baridl, N.W.P. 



A tree, young branches, under side of leaves, inflorescence, and calyx 

 with short pubescence. Leaves with cordate or rounded base, as broad 

 as long ; leaflets connate beyond the middle, with 5-7 nerves. Eaeemes 



* The vernacular names of B. purpurea and variegata demand further inquirv. 



