Pbosopis.] LJEGVMINOSM. 3G» 



siibspicate racemes, polygamous. Calyx minute, campanulate, sub- 

 entire or faintly 5-tootlied. Petals 5, ligulate, subcoherent at the 

 base. Stamens 10, free, slightly exserted ; filaments filiform ; 

 anthers crowned with a gland. Ovary stalked, inany-ovuled ; style 

 filifonn ; stigma minute, terminal. Fod turgid, indehiscent, cylin- 

 dric or oblong, with a thick spongy mesocarp, septate between the 

 seeds.— Species about 25, inhabiting tropical and subtropical regions 

 of both hemispheres. 



p. spicigera, Linn. Mant. i, 6S ; W. Sf A. Prod. 271 ; Royle III. 182 ; 



D.Sc G.Bomh. Fl. 84; Brand. For. Fl. 169, f. (cxv ; F. B. I. ii, 288; 



Watt E. D. Adenanthera aculeata, \Boxh. Fl. Ind. ii, 37J.— Vern. Jhand, 



chaunkra. 



A moderate-sized tree, more or less armed with scattered Ibroad conical 

 somewhat compressed nearly straight prickles. Pinnce usually 4, oppo- 

 site, 1-2 in. long, with a gland between each pair ; Isafipts 8-12 pairs, 

 sessile i-f in, long, obliquely oblong, cuspidate, rigidly coriaceous, 

 grey, glabrous. Flowers small, yellow, in slender spikes 2-3 in, long, 

 arranged in short-peduncled axillary panicles. Pod 5-10 in. long, pen- 

 dulous, torulose. Seeds many, immersed in sweetish mealy pulp, oblong, 

 brown. 



Not uncommon in the drier portions of the area, as in Merwara, Bundel- 

 khand and in the neighbourhood of Delhi and Ag-ra. Distrib. Abun- 

 dant in the Punjab, Eajputana, Sind and Gujarat, also in the drier 

 parts of 0. and S. India; it occurs also in Baluchistan, Afghanis- 

 tan, and Persia. Flowers in April and May. The sweetish pulp in- 

 side the young pods resembles that of the Caroh (Ceratonia Siliqua), 

 and is largely eaten in times of scarcity in localities where the tree is 

 abundant. The bark, which has a sweetish taste, is also largely con- 

 sumed in the form of flour during severe famines. The purplish-brown 

 heartwood is very hard and tough, but not durable ; the wood, however, 

 is chiefly valued as fueL The tree is considered sacred by Hindus all 

 over India. For further information Dr. Watt's Dictionary article 

 should be consulted. 



P. juliflora, DO, the Mezquit Bean of Texas, has been successfully grown 

 at Saharanpur and at other places within the area of this flora. The 

 sweet pods of this tree are largely used as food and as fodder for cattle 

 in its native 'country. 



69. DICHROSTACHYS, DO. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. ii, 2.38. 



Shrubs or small trees. Leaves bipinnate, with minute coriaceous 

 leaflets. Floioers minute, spicate, dimorphous, polygamons, only 

 perfect in the upper part of the spike, those of the lower half bear- 

 ing long filiform staminodes. Calyx ToAnviie, companulate, 5-toothed. 

 Corolla oblong, the 5 strap-shaped petals subcounate towards the 

 base. Stamens of the perfect flowers slightly ex>^erted ; filaments 



