240 LEGUMINOSZS. lBptea. 



1. B. frondosa, Eoxh. Cor. PI. i, 21, t. 21; Fl. Ind. Hi, 244; W d- A 

 Prod. 261; D. Sf G. Bomb. Fl. 71; Brand. For. Fl. 142; F.B.I, ii] 194] 

 Watt E.D.-Yevn. Dhdh, palds, chalcha (Bundelkhand). 



A small or moderate sized tree -with a crooked trunk and irregular 

 branches, young parts silky-pubescent. Petioles 3-6 in-; stipules and 

 stipels small, deciduous ; leaflets 4-8 in. long, rigidly coriaceous, gla- 

 brescent above, silky-tomentose and strongly veined beneath ; terminal 

 one_ rhomboid from a cuneate base, obtuse or emarginate ; lateral 

 obliquely ovate. Branches of inflorescence brown-velvety- Flowers 

 2-3 in. long, in fascicles from the swollen nodes of stout rigid axillary 

 and terminal racemes. Calyx ^ in. long, brown-velvety outside, grey- 

 silky within. Petals bright orange-red, silvery tomentose outside, nearly 

 equal ; standard 1 in. broad ; heel much curved, acute, 4 times as long 

 as the calyx. Pod 4-8 by 1^-2 in., grey- downy, narrowed suddenly into 

 a stalk longer than the calyx. Seed 1, within the dehiscent apex of the 

 pod. 



Abundant within the area- Distrib. : W. Himalaya up to 4,000 feet, 

 Punjab Plain and Bengal to Ceylon and Burma, frequently gregarious. 

 In Upper India it is usually found in open country and not in thick 

 forests : and very often, owing to constant lopping, it remains perma- 

 nently as a shrub. It thrives on a saline soil, and attempts have been 

 made to extend its growth on the usar tracts of the Doab. The tree is 

 in flower during March and April, and at that time presents a strikingly 

 beautiftil object in the landscape. Many useful products are obtained 

 from it. A good fibre is prepared from the root-bark. A ruby-coloured 

 gum, called Bengal hino, is obtained from incisions made in the bark. 

 A beautiful yellow dye is prepared from the flowers, and is used chiefly 

 for sprinkling during the Holi festival. Lac is often collected from 

 the branches. The leaves serve the purpose of plates, and for wrapping 

 up parcels, and the foliage is given as fodder to buffalos and elephants. 

 In Dr. Watt's Dictionary full information will be found regarding these 

 and other useful products, and also as to the sacred character of this 

 tree. 



2. B. superba. Boxh. Cor. PI. 23, t. 22; Fl. Ind. Hi, 247 ; W. ^ A. Prod. 

 261 ; Eoyle III. 195 ; D. <^ G. Bomh. Fl. 71 ; Brand. For. Fl. 143 ; F. B. I. 

 a, 195 ; Watt E. D. 



A large woody climber, differinsf from B. rolusta mainly by its scandent 

 habit. Leaflets a,nd. flOivers laxgev, the iovmev sometimes reaching 20 in. 

 long. Racemes about 1 foot long ; pedicels sometimes three times as 

 long as the calyx. 



Forests of N. Oudh and Bundelkhand. Distrib.: Chota Nagpur, 0. and S. 

 India and in Burma The orange-red flowers, which make their appear- 

 ance in March and April, are even more gorgeous than those of the pre- 

 ceding. A similar kind of hino is obtained from it, and the leaves 

 afford valuable fodder. 



