132 . GERANIACEJE. [Aveeehoa. 



5. AVERRHOA, Linn. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. i, 439. 



Trees with alternate imparipinnate leaves, without stipules. 

 Flowers sytiall, regular, in axillary panicled cymes, or emerging 

 from the branches. Sepals 5, imbricate. Petals 5, contorted. 

 Glands 0. Stamens 10, united at the bas3, all perfect or 5 without 

 anthers. Ovary 5-lobed, 5-celIed, not beaked ; styles 5, distinct ; 

 stigmas capitate ; ovules many in each cell. Fruit oblong, 5-Iobed, 

 indehiscent Seeds 2-5 in each cell, with or without an aril ; albu- 

 men scanty, fleshy. — Species 3 or 4, two of which are cultivated 

 in India and in other hot countries. Probably both of these latter 

 are natives of the New World, whence they were very likely intro- 

 duced into India by the Portuguese. 



Leaflets 2-5 pairs, fruit acutely angled, seeds 



arillate \. A, Caramhola, 



Leaflets 5-12 pairs, fruit obtusely angled, seeds 



not arillate 2. C. Bilimhi. 



1. A. Caramtjola, Linn. Sp. PI, 428; Boxh. Fl. Ind. ii, 450 ; W. ^ A. 

 Prod. Ml ; Royle III. J 52 ; Brand. For. Fl. 45 ; F. B. I. ^, 439 ; Watt E, B. 

 Vern. Khamrak. 



Largely cultivated all over the hotter parts of India for the sake of 



its fruit, which is usually very acid ; there is, however, a sweet variety 



grown in Bengal. Various portions of the tree are used medicinally. 



* It flowers during the hot and rainy seasons, and the fruit ripens in the 



cold season. The leaves are sensitive. 



2. A. BilimTbi, Linn. 8p. Fl. 428; Boxh. Fl. Ind. ii, 451; W. ^ A. 

 Prod. 142 ; Royle III. 152; Brand. For. Fl. 46 ; F. B. I. i, 43d ; Watt E^ 

 D. Vern. Bilimli. 



In gardens throughout the hotter parts of India, also naturalized as an 

 escape. The reddish purple flowers appear during the hot season. 

 The very acid fruit, which ripens during the rainy season, is pickled and 

 is often used in curries, or preserved in sugar. 



6. IMPATIENS, liinn. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. i. 440. 



This srenus is distinguished from all the preceding ones by it& 

 irregular and resupinate flowers. It contains over 200 species, 

 the majority of which are natives of India. They are distributed 

 throughout the Himalaya, occurring most abundantly on the moist 

 outer ranges. Many kinds are found also in the mountainous 

 regions of S. India. Some of the species are gregarions, and 

 form a marked feature of the undergrowth during the rainy season. 



