Amooka.] MELJACJIJil. 151 



never quite leafless ; flowers March-May, and the fruit ripens in July and 

 August. Almost every portion of this valuable tree, which is held sacred 

 by Hindus, possesses some medicinal property. The wood is much valued 

 for the construction of carts and agricultural implements, and is also 

 used for making idols. From the pulp of the fruit an acrid bitter oil 

 (margosa) is extracted. This is used medicinally and also for burning. 

 For information on other useful properties yielded by this tree 

 Dr. Watt's Dictionary should be consulted. 



2. M. Azedaracb, Linn. 8p. PI 884 ; Roxh. Fl.Ind. ii, 395 ;W.& A Prod 

 217; Brand. For. Fl.68. F. B. I. i, 544:; Watt E.D.M. sempervirens, Swartz ; 

 Roxh. ; Fl. Ind I. c. ; D. Sf G. Bomh. Fl. 8np^l. 15. M. Bukayun, Eoyle III. 

 241. Vern. Bukaw, dek. (Persian Lilac). 



A moderate-sized tree, up to 40 ft. high. Leaves 9-18 in., 2-pinnate and 

 occasionally 3-pinnate ; leajiets -g-g in. long, ovate or lanceolate, serrate or 

 entire, acuminate, base more or less oblique. Floivers ^-§ in. long, lilac, 

 honey-scented. c'aJj/a; deeply lobed ; lobes lanceolate-oblong. Petals linear' 

 spathulate, minutely hairy. Anthers nearly equalling the linear-lanceo- 

 late teeth of the purple staminal-tube. Ovary 5-celled. Drupe ^-| in. in 

 diam., 5-celled and 5-seeded, or fewer by abortion. 



This tree is believed to be wild in the Dehra Dun and Saharanpur forests, 

 and along the base of the Himalaya in Rohilkhand and N. Oudh ; but it is 

 also extensively cultivated throughout the area. Disteib. : Baluchistan 

 and Persia ; cultivated throughout India, especially in the Punjab Plain, 

 and up to 5,8l0 ft. on the Himalaya. Flowers March-May, and the fruit 

 ripens during the cold season. Various portions of this tree are used 

 medicinally, and the stones of the fruit after being perforated are made 

 into necklaces and rosaries. The leaves are much used as fodder. It is 

 indigenous in Jamaica, and in C. America, and is known there as the 

 * West Indian Bead-tree .' 



2. AMOORA. Roxb. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. i. 559. 



Trees. Leaves usually unequally pinnate ; leajiets oblique, quite 

 •entire. Floioers in sub-dioecious axillary panicles ; females in spikes 

 or racemes. Calyx S^-S-pavtite or- fid. Petals 3-5, thick, concave, 

 inbricated Staminal tube subglobose or campanulate, minutely 6-10- 

 crenate ; anthers 6-10, included. Disk U. Ovary sessile, short, 3-5- 

 celled ; cells 1-2-ovuled ; ^fi^rw? a usually sessile. Ca^^M^e subglobose, 

 coriaceous, 3-4-celled and-seeded, loculicidally 3-o-valved. Seeds 

 inclosed in a fleshy aril.— Species about 25, restricted to- India and 

 the Malay Archipelago, with the exception of one end.'mie species in 

 Australia. 



A. Robituka, W. Sf A. Prod. 119 ; Brand. For. Fl. 69 ; F. B. T. i 



559 ; Watt E. D. Andersonia Eohituka, -Rorcfe, ; Fl. Ind. ii, 213. Vernl 

 Harin harra, sohaya (Oudh). 



