84 



FOREST TREES. 



tree, tlie geru mara is widely known and appreciated 

 for its medicinal fruit. M. Venkatnarnappa states 

 that the oil ' from the seed is utilised in the taming 

 of "wild elephants and that a birdlime is prepared 

 from the crushed, green fruit. "When ripe, the latter 

 is very pretty, the shining black drupe being in dis- 

 tinct contrast to the orange-red receptacle. 



Cultivation-— Although the seeds of this tree ger- 

 minate freely, the seedlings (accor-ding to local ex- 

 perience) invariably damp off at a tender age. This 

 retards propagation so much that the species is not 

 found in garden cultivation. Experiments should 

 be made in grafting, inarching and putting down 

 cuttings. ' 



178 Semecarpus Anacardium var. cuneifolia, DC. 



Kan. Goddu gem. 



This is a larger form, which is said, as the verna- 

 cular implies, to be barren of tlowers and fruit. 

 The species, iS. travancorica, and S. auricvlata, 

 should be searched for in the western Malnad. One 

 is figured and both are described in " Beddome's 

 Flora Sylvatica." 



179 Holigarna Arnottiana, Hook. 

 Fig~Bedd. Fl Syh. 1. 167. 



A lofty tree of Coorg and the Western Ghats. All 

 the species of this genus possess a peculiar acrid 

 juice of a dark color. Herbarium specimens are 

 much wanted. 



180 Holigarna ferruginea, Maechand. 

 Resembling the last named, excepting that the 



short, robust, racemes have larger flowers The 

 tree is also less branched, while the herbacious parts 

 are rather thickly covered by a reddish tomentum. 



181 Holigarna longifolia, Roxb. Kan. Kutu^eri 



-Hooteegheree. ° ' ; 



References— ^am&. Man. Timh.; Fi. of Brit. Ind. 



