54 BOTANY OF SOCOTRA. 



It is interesting to obtain in Socotra this, the plant which yields the gum- 

 resin known as " Indian Bdellium," the " Googul " or " Mukul " of the Arabians 

 and Persians. We only found it in one locality, and unfortunately did not obtain 

 any of the gum-resin. The inhabitants collect this, but I did not learn of its 

 being exported or used for any special purpose. 



2. B. socotranum, Balf. fil. in Proc. Eoy. Soc. Edin. xi. (1882), 505. 

 Tab. XII. 



Commiphora socotrana, Engl, in DC. Monog. Phanerog. iv. (1883), Addit. 536. 



Arbuscula ; foliis fasciculatis plerumque 1- (rarius 3-) foliolatis petiolatis, foliolis oblongis v. 

 oblongo-ellipticis v. subobovatis obtusis undulatis v. rarius ad apicem vix dentatis pellu- 

 cido-venulosis ; inflorescentia sessili 1-3-flora ; floribus sessilibus ; staminibus 4 basi disci 

 iusertis, antheris ellipticis. 



Arbor odora resinifera 30-pedalis inarmata sed in locis calcareis aridis ssepe fruticosa cum ramis 

 rigidis spinosis, ramulis terminalibus pubescentibus striatis. Folia fasciculata ad apices 

 ramorum contractorum v. suppressorum f-1 poll, longa 1-foliolata interdum 3-foliolata ; 

 foliola solitaria \~\ poll, longa £— | poll, lata anguste oblonga v. oblongo-elliptica v. sub- 

 obovata basi saepe subcuneata in petiolum £-§ poll, longum attenuata, apice obtusa integra 

 v. crenato-dentata margine saepius obscure undulata, foliolo trifoliolatorum terminali 

 maximo et apice saepissime tridentato, omnia glabrescentia tenuia pellucido-venulosa. 

 Florcs <J sessiles precoces v. rarius inter folia evoluti clilute-earnei in cymas 1-3-floras 

 sessiles aggregate Calyx poculiformis 4-dentatus in alabastro dense villosus demum sparsim 

 pilosus papillosus fa poll, longus. Petala | poll, longa ^ poll, lata acuta subcnspidata 

 recurvata. Stamina 4 extus basi disci magni albi undulato-octagoni inserta ; antherce 

 obtusae oblongoe v. ellipticse longitudine latitudiuem excedente ; staminodia o. Caet. ignot. 



Nom. Vern. Logahan (B.C.S.). Leggehen (Schweinf.). 



Socotra. Abundant. B.C.S. nn. 252, 256. Schweinf. nn. 458, 501, 514. 



Distrib. Endemic. 



One of the commonest of all the gum-resin producing trees in Socotra, and 

 presenting somewhat varying features according to situation. In the favouring 

 soil of the hill slopes of Haghier, a tree reaching as much as thirty feet high is 

 formed, with branches ending in well-clothed twigs of considerable length. In 

 such situations, too, the leaves are large, and whilst most commonly unifoliolate, 

 are often found trifoliolate. On exposed sites on the dry limestone plains we 

 have the opposite extreme, — small trees, or perhaps low shrubs, with short, hard, 

 and rigid branches, often ending in spines and clothed with but few small leaves, 

 rarely becoming trifoliolate. Unfortunately the plant was not in fruit when we 

 were on the island, and Schweinfurth sends no fruit. The plant is very fragrant, 

 but I did not learn that the gum-resin is collected in any quantity. 



Specifically the Socotran plant finds its nearest affinity in B. opobalsamum, 

 Kth. in Ann. Sc. Nat. ser 1, ii. (1824), 348, a plant widely spread in Arabia, 

 and extending into Nubia and Somali Land, and perhaps also to Socotra. 



