50 BOTANY OF SOCOTRA. 



Disthib. Endemic. 



This is the chief gum-resin producing tree of the island, and is a thoroughly 

 distinct species. Its nearest allies appear to be the Abyssinian and ^Ethiopian 

 B. papyri/era, Ach. Rich. (Tent. Flor. Abyss, i. 148, t. 33), and the Somali 

 Land B. Carterii, Birdw. (in Trans. Linn. Soc. xxvii. (1871), 143), but from both 

 of them its short, dense inflorescences separate it. Its fruits are much more 

 shortly stalked than those in the first mentioned, and have a different outline 

 from those of the latter. 



I have named the species from the native name. Wellsted (in Journ. Roy. 

 Geog. Soc. v. (1835), 172) speaks of it as the " Amaro-tree," and says " when 

 branches are broken they smell strongly of turpentine, but the camels are not- 

 withstanding exceedingly fond of them." The gum-resin is obtained by making 

 incisions in the bark, when a white viscid substance exudes, which when 

 hardened is collected in goat skins. So far as we could learn this is not much 

 exported or used. For further discussion of the subject of the gum-resin and 

 the structure of the plant, see Appendix and Introductory Chapter. 



2. B. elongata, Balf. fil. in Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. xi. (1882), 505 ; Engl, 

 in DC. Monog. Phanerog. iv. (1883), Addit. 537. Tab. X. 



Aiborea cortice papyraceo ; foliis magnis multifoliolatis rhachi tereti tomentosa, foliolis sessili- 

 bus elongato-oblongis obtusis erenato-serratis revolutis ; racemis ramosis elongatis foliis 

 fere duplolongioribus, pedieellis crassis floribus brevioribus ; capsulis maturis non visis. 



Arbor balsamiflua cortice papyraceo rumpente. Rami terminales crassi. Folia 9-14 poll, 

 longa impari-multifoliolata (15-20) ad apices ramorum conferta rhachi tomentoso-pubes- 

 cente ; foliola subopposita v. alterna sessilia 1|-3| poll, longa ^— | poll, lata elongato- 

 oblonga saape multo ar.gustata basi subdilatata obliqua et rotundata v. subcordata, apice 

 obtusa v. late acuta margine revoluta serratu-crenata supra glabra nitida subtus griseo- 

 tomentosa venulis primariis prominulis. Racemi tomentosi elongati usque ad 15 poll, 

 ramosi, ramis inferioribus elongatis, superioribus brevibus ; bracteorae parvae inferiores 

 subfoliaceie integrae, superioreslineares minutaa; pedicelli breves l~l poll, longi canaliculati 

 4-angulares crassi floribus subasquilongi v. breviores. Flares expansi § poll. diam. Calycis 

 lobi deltoidei persistentes. Petala oblonga subobtusa apice subincrassata inflexa j 3 q poll, 

 longa subtiliter velutiua alba. Stamina petalis breviora, filameutis lineari-acutis complan- 

 atis papillosis striatis ad basin disci extus insertis ; antherre filamentis vix dimidio 

 breviores sparsim puberulie. Discus cupulifonnis vix undulatus glaber. Ovarium quad- 

 rangulari-stipitatum tetragonum 4-loculare glabrum in styluui crassum tetragonum sursum 

 angustatum, stigmate spongioso capitato. Fruct. mat. non vidi. 



Socotra. On the hill slopes ; not uncommon. B.C.S. nn. 153 ? 657. 



Distiub. Endemic. 



The gum-resin of this tree is not so penetratingly fragrant as that of the 

 last species. With B. Carterii, Birdw. (in Trans. Linn. Soc. xxvii. (1871), 143), 

 this species has probably its nearest affinity, but it also resembles some forms 



