DILLENIA PENTAGYNA. (Nat. order Dilleniacese.) 



For Geu. Char, see letter press to PI. ciii. 



DlLLENIA PENTAGYNA. (Roxb.) A very large tree, leaves quite sessile and amplexieaul at the base or with petioles 

 1-4 inches long, oblong to oblongo-lanceolate or obovate acute or obtuse at the apex, 1-2 feet long (or iu saplings up to 5 feet long) 

 paler beneath, when adult very coriaceous glabrous or puberulous beneath, when young membranaceous and more or less pilose or seri- 

 ceous according to age and ciliate at the margin, very prominently veined with raised parallel veins which are simple and excurrent at 

 the margin into a sharp serrature or once or twice forked (generally only towards the apex) each veinlet ending iu a serrature, flowers 

 J-f inch in expansion appearing before the leaves in small clusters along the older branches, pedicels 5-8, one-two inches long arising 

 from several small concave thick silky bractes, sepals unequal the 3 outer ovate the 2 inner longer and narrower, petals oblong to 

 obovate yellow very caducous, stamens numerous the interior row longer than the other and reflexed like the styles, ovaries 5, styles re- 

 flexed, stigmas simple apiculate, seeds by abortion 1-2. Roxb. Fl. hid. ii. 652. Dillenia augusta et pilosa, Roxb. I. c. Colbertia 

 Coromandelina, DC. Prod. 175. 



This tree is most abundant throughout South India and in Northern India and Birmah, but does not occur in Ceylon ; it is to be met 

 with in almost every forest in this Presidency. It flowers towards the end of January, or as late as March or April, when the tree is destitute of 

 leaves. It is called Rai, Pine 3.nd Nai-tek in Tamil in different districts, Chinna Ealing a in Telugu, Kanagalee and Machilin Canarese, and in 

 Birmah Yeengd and Bjooben. The wood is dote grainei, strong, tough, fibrous and durable even under ground, of a reddish brown colour and a 

 pretty wavy surface on one side, not easily worked and subject to warp and crack ; a cubic foot unseasoned weighs 85 — 90 lbs., and 70 lbs . when 

 seasoned ; its specific gravity is 1'120 ; it is used in house and ship building, and is adapted for cabinet purposes. 



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