MTSOBB AND OOOEG. 149 



'References— Brand. For. il. ; Diet, of Boon. 

 Prod, of Ind. 



A large or middling-sized tree of the Malnad and 

 Coorg. Bark wliite, smooth, given off in thin flakes. 

 Leaves deciduous in the dry season, smooth, white 

 beneath ; average blade 3 x 1 in. Flowers preceding 

 the young leaves, small but very numerous, pinkish 

 lilac. One of the reserved trees of the State forest. 

 Wood yellowish-brown changing to red in the centre, 

 smooth, even-grained, elastic, tough and of. great 

 transverse strength. Weight 41-48 lb. per cubic foot. 

 Seasons well and is durable if preserved from mois- 

 ture. But felled trees soon decay if left exposed to 

 the weather in the forest. The large beams in the 

 roof of the Palace at Mercara are of this wood, 

 and it is highly prized in Coorg for building 

 purposes. It is also used for making furniture, 

 carts, and grinding mills. But the tree- is held 

 sacred by some of the hill people, who will not 

 utilise it economically on that account. 



Cultivation.— Raise from seed and plant in the hill 

 sholas where the rainfall is 75—100 inches per annum. 



303 Lagerstrcemia Flos-Reginae, Rbtz. Kan. 



Ckalla, Chella, Holedasal ? 

 'Pig.—Bot. Plates Lal-Bagh Collection. Wight 



Ic. t 413. Bedd. Fl. Syh. t. 29. 

 References— Brand. For. Fl. ; Diet, of Econ. 



Prod, of Ind. ; Fl. of Brit. Ind. 



A large tree of the Grhat forests. Sometimes 

 called the "Pride of India" on account of its 

 gorgeous blossom. The latter breaks forth in May 

 or June, supported by the young leaves, and ia 

 truly a , splendid sight. The panicles, which are 

 mostly terminal, are two feet in length, while the 

 individual flower is not less than three inches in 

 diameter and mauve-purple in color. While in 

 blossom the tree can be seen for a long distance off. 



