58 BIXINEM, [COCHLOSPBBMUM. 



C. Gossypium, DQ. Prod, i, 527 ; W. ^ A. Prod, 87 ; Brand. For. FL 

 17 ; F. B. I. i. 190 ; Watt E. D. Bombax Gossypium, Linn. ; Boxh, FL 

 Ind, Hi, 169. Vern. Kumhi, gahdi. 



A small soft-wooded tree with short thick spreading branches, the 

 younger ones tomentose and hearing the scars of the fallen leaves and 

 fruit-stalks. Leaves on long slender petioles, 3-8 in. in diam., 3-5-pal- 

 mately lobed, tomentose beneath ; lobes acute or acuminate, entire. 

 Flowers 4-5 in. across, in few-flowered terminal panicles, golden yellow. 

 SepaZs unequal, broadly oval, silky. Petals obovate, notched. Capsule 

 2-3 in., oval, 5-lobed. 



Siwalik range, N. Oudh, and on dry hills in Bundelkhand. Distrib. ■ 

 Bengal, C. India and the Dekkan. Flowers Feb— April, before the 

 leaves appear ; the fruit ripens in Juneland July. A clear white gum 

 (katira) exudes from the bark. 



2. BIXA5 Linn. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. i, 190. 



A tree. Leaves simple ; stipules minute. Flowers in terminal 

 panicles, 2-sexual. Segals and petals 5. Anthers opening by 2 

 terminal pores. Ovary 1 -celled ; style slender, curved, stigma 

 notched ; ovules many, on 2 parietal placentas. Capsule loculicidally 

 2-valved. Seeds many, testa pulpy, albumen fleshy. 



B. Orellana, Linn. Sp. PI. 512; Eoxl. Fl. Ind. ii, 5S1 ; W. & A. Prod. 31 ; 

 F. B. L i. 190 ; Brand. For. Fl. 17 ; Watt E. D. Vern. Lathan. (Arnotto.) 



A small evergreen tree. Young shoots and inflorescence rusty-puber- 

 ulous. Leaves 4-8 in. long, cordate, acuminate, glabrous. Flovjers 2-3 

 in. across, in terminal panicles, white or pink. Cajpsule ovoid, covered 

 with long weak bristles. 



Introduced from tropical Ameria, and now cultivated throughout India 

 for the dye prepared from the pulp surrounding the seeds. 



3. FLACOUBTIA, Commers. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. i. 191. 



Trees or shrubs, often thorny. Leaves toothed or crenate. Flowers 

 small, usually dioecious. Sepals 4-5, small, imbricate. Petals 0. 

 Stamens many ; anthers versatile. Ovary on a glandular disk i 

 styles 2 or more; stigmas notched or 2-lobed ; ovules usually in 

 pairs on each placenta. Fruit indehiscent ; endocai^p hard, with as 

 many cells as seeds. Seeds obovoid, testa coriaceous. • ' 



Leaves ovate or lanceolate, acuminate . . 1. F. Catajphracta. 



Leaves ovate or orbicular, obtuse. 



A small tree, stigmas 5-11 . . . , 2. F. Ramontchi. _ 



A thorny shrub, stigmas 3-4 . . . .3. F. sejpiaria. 



