N. 0. LYTHRACE^. 567 



sometimes reaching l^in. by lin. ; the capsule is broadly ovoid, 

 the lower third enclosed in the persistent Calyx. Seed with 

 wing f-f-in. long, pale brown. 



Uses : — The root is prescribed as an astringent. " Its root, 

 bark, leaves, and flowers are used medicinally by the Natives " 

 (Beddome). The Rev. J. Long, in an article on the Indigenous 

 Plants of Bengal, states that the seeds are narcotic, the bark 

 and leaves purgative (Jour. Agri-Hort. Soc. of Ind. (Old Series), 

 IX., 423). Dr. Thomson reports, that the fruit of the Pyenma 

 is used in the Andamans as a local application for aphthae of 

 the mouth (Jour. Agri-Hort. Soc. of Ind. (Old Series), XL, 446). 



" The bark, of this and of L. indica, Linn., is considered sti- 

 mulant and febrifuge " (Surgeon-Major W. D. Stewart, Cuttack). 



515. Sonneratia aeida, Linn. H.F.B.I., n. 579, 

 Eoxb, 405. 



Vent. ' — Orcha, archaka (B.) ; Sundari guna (Uriya ; ; Tivar 

 (Bomb.) 



Habitat :— Forests of the Sind-Coast. Rather common in 

 Ceylon, in tidal Estuaries with the Man-groves. Also in 

 the Dekkan Peninsula, in the Concan Littoral, forests of 

 Bengal, Delta of the Indus, Sunderban, Burma, Siam, Java. 

 Coast, from Chittagong to Tenassarim, ascending the rivers 

 as far as the tides. Malay Peninsula and the Achipelago. 

 Brandis makes the following noteworthy observations : — This 

 and the other species of Sonneratia as well as a few other Man- 

 grove' trees send up, from their widely spreading horizontal roots, 

 vertical branches, with soft pith-like wood which serve to 

 facilitate the interchange of gas between the atmosphere and 

 the roots buried in the mud of the tidal swamp. 



A small tree, attaining 30ft. Root-branches frequent and 

 continuous. Wood light, soft, even-grained (Gamble). Twigs 

 quadrangular. Leaves nearly sessile, 2J-3in., oblong-oval or 

 roundish, tapering to base, obtuse, sometimes apiculate at 

 apex, slightly fleshy. Flowers dark rose-red, large, 3in. long, 

 terminal, solitary, on very short thick pedicels, buds not ribbed, 

 blunt, but apiculate at apex ; Calyx-tube, quite without ribs, 



