﻿JULY 1 TO OCTOBER 31, 1919. 65 



48262 to 48282— Continued. 



been cultivated and then abandoned. For affording protection to planted 

 trees of more valuable timber, put out in lines or in patches cut in the 

 shrubby growth, I can imagine nothing better. Native to the eastern 

 Himalayas, from Nepal -to Bhutan, at 4,000 to 6,000 feet, and in the 

 Khasi Hills at 3,000 to 5,000 feet. (Adapted from Gamble, Manual of 

 Indian Timbers, p. 438.) • 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 47711. 



48273. Micromelum ptjbescens Blume. Rutacese. 



A small evergreen tree, native to eastern and northern India, Ceylon, 

 and the Andamans. The bark is thin and white, and the hard close- 

 grained wood is yellowish white. (Adapted from Gamble, Manual of 

 Indian Timbers, p. 125.) 



48274. Osbeckia stellata Don. Melastomacese. 



An ornamental shrub from 2 to 7 feet high, with reddish branchlets 

 and membranous leaves 2 to 6 inches in length. The delicately beautiful 

 lilac-rose flowers have four ovate ciliate petals 11 inches across. The 

 conspicuous stamens are incurved, and the calyx tube is pale green with 

 green-stalked stellate hairs, each bearing eight reddish rays. (Adapted 

 from Curtis' s Botanical Magazine, pi. 8500.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 39126. 



48275. Premna scandens Roxb. Verbenacese. 



A tree 20 to 40 feet in height, or a large climber, native to northeast 

 Bengal, Sikkim, Bhutan, and Assam. The leaves are 11 inches long and 

 4 inches wide, borne on short petioles. The small greenish or yellowish 

 flowers are in 4-inch to 10-inch lax, dense, compound corymbs. The small 

 globose drupes are tubercled. (Adapted from Hooker, Flora of British 

 India, vol. 4, p. 575.) 



48276. Pruntjs cerasoides D. Don. Amygdalacese. 

 (P. puddum Roxb.) 



A large deciduous tree, with brilliant rose-red or white flowers, native 

 to the Himalayas from the Indus to Assam, between 2,500 and 7,000 feet, 

 to the Khasi Hills, and to the hills of Upper Burma. It is often culti- 

 vated. The brown shining bark peels off in thin horizontal layers and 

 the moderately hard, scented wood has a pretty shining silver grain. 

 The wood is used in the Punjab Himalayas for walking sticks, which 

 are made from saplings or from root suckers ; in Darjiling it is occasion- 

 ally used for furniture. The seeds are strung in rosaries. (Adapted 

 from Hooker, Flora of British India, vol. 2, p. 314, and Gamble, Manual 

 of Indian Timbers, p. 313.) 



48277. Rtjbia cordifolia L. Rubiacese. Madder. 

 A herbaceous perennial which grows abundantly in the Punjab 



Himalayas from 3,200 to 10,000 feet, and in the Suliman Range. Like 

 the European madder, the root furnishes a red dye, a mixture of alizarin 

 and purple bronze but less lasting than that of the European madder. It 

 is considered astringent, purgative, emetic, and useful in skin diseases. 

 The fleshy fruit is used to overcome obstructions of the liver. (Adapted 

 from De Lanessan, Les Plantes Utiles des Colonies Francaises, p. 625, 

 and Stetvart, Punjab Plants, p. 116.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 47780. 



