144 SIMABVBE^. [Ailanthus.- 



Himalaya. In cultivated trees the spines are often wanting. Flowers 

 iViarch to May, and the frtiit becomes ripe about one year afterwards.. 

 The medicinal properties of the fruit of this tree are well known. The 

 pulp of the ripe fruit is also largely eaten as food, or diluted with water 

 it makes a refreshing drink. The root-bark and leaves are also used 

 medicinally. A good gum exudes from the stems, and a dye is prepared 

 from the rind of the fruit. The shells of the smaller fruits are largely 

 used as smiff -boxes. Amongst Hindus the Bael is considered one of the 

 most sacred of Indian trees, and on this account it is so often,met with 

 near temples. 



XXIX.-SIMARUBEJE. 



Teees or shrubs, usually with bitter bark.^ Leaves alternate, often 

 very large, usually pinnate ; stipules or deciduous. Flowers 'usually 

 J -sexual, regular, small. Calyx 3-5-lobed, valvate or imbricate. 

 Petals 3-5, hypogynous, valvate or imbricate. Stamens usually as 

 rrrany or twice as many as the petals, inserted at the base of the disk ; 

 filaments free ; anther's usually introrse, dehiscing longitudinally. 

 Ovary free ; 1-6-celled ; styles 2-5 ; stigmas capitate ; ovules usually 

 solitary in each cell. Fruit drupaceous, capsular or samaroid, usually 

 ot' 2-6 distinct 1-seeded carpels. Seeds albuminous.— Tropical and 

 sub-tropical regions of both hemispheres. 



A tall tree with pinnate leaves, fruit samaroid 1. Ailanthus. 

 A small spiny tree with 2-foliolate leaves, fruit 

 a drupe 2. Balanites. 



1. AILANTHUS, Desf. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. i. 518. 



Lofty trees. Leaves very large, crowded near the ends of the 

 branches, alternate, unequally pinnate. Mowers small, polygamous, 

 bracteolate, in terminal or axillary panicles. Calyx 5'fid.; lobes- 

 equal, imbricate. Petals 5, valvate. JDish 10-Iobed. Stamens 10 or 

 2-3 only in the hermaphrodite flowers. Ovary 2-5-partite ; styles 

 connate ; ovules 1 in each cell. Fruit of 1-5 one-seeded samaras ^ 

 wing large, membranous. Seed pendulous, sparingly albuminous. — 

 Species about 7, inhabiting India, China, and Australia. 

 A. glandulosa, Desf., a species probably introduced from Japan, is 



sometimes met with as a planted tree within the area. It is hardy in 



Europe, and is often cultivated as an avenue tree. It is also grown for 



the rearing of different kinds of silkworms. 



A. excelsa. Boxh. Cor. PI. ^, t. 23 ; Fl. Ind. ii, 450 ; W. Sf A. Prod. 

 150 ; Boyle til. 157 ; D. ^ G. Bomb. Fl. 46; Brand. For. Fl. 58; F, B^I. 

 i, 518; Watt E. D. Vern. Arua. 



