MYSOEE AND OOORG: 19 



■unpopularity than any other cause. The wood, 

 when easily procurable, is highly prized for bridges 

 and other works of engineering. It is of a reddish 

 ■colour and weighs about 70 lb. per cubic foot. The 

 oil afforded by the seed heals sores quickly and is 

 a, popular embrocation in rheumatism and stiff joints. 

 -An attar is prepared from the flower, and the tree 

 is cultivated for the latter and for scenic effect. It 

 is easily propagated from seed and grows well in the 

 ■open glades of the Malnad, 

 33 Poeciloneuron indicum, Bedd. Kan. Ballagi, 



Ballangi. 



Fig.-Bedd. Fl. Sylv. t. 3. 



KQiarencea.— Flora of Brit. Ind. ; Diet, of Econ. 

 Prod, of Ind. 

 This ^ornamental tree is practically confined to 

 the evergreen sholas in the Western Ghats. Being 

 exceptionally hard and heavy, the timber is occa- 

 sionally referred to as ' iron wood,' as in the case 

 «f Nagasampage. But there is some doubt whether 

 the appellation applies correctly to this species or to 

 the one immediately following. Both possess tim- 

 ber of about the same specific gravity, and both are 

 <5ommon to the upper hill forests. It should be ob- 

 ■served, therefore, that the whole tree,, leaves, 

 rflowers, and fruit are proportionately larger in the 

 species under notice. Flowers in numerous terminal 

 panicles, fragrant and yellowish-white, sepals 5, 

 petals 5, regular. Fruit the size and form of a 

 damson plum. Except for rice pounders, agricul- 

 tural implements, and perhaps walking-sticks, (see 

 following species) the wood is little known and not 

 generally utilised. But this is due, no_ doubt, to its 

 hardness, weight, and inaccessible position. With 

 the advent of railways, steam-saws, and foreign 

 capital, the real value of these hard woods will be 

 •demonstrated. 



