316 LBGUMINOSM. [Acaoia. 



are eaten in times of scarcity. The wood is used chiefly for posts and 

 fuel. The reddish -brown heartwood is extremely hard, strong and tough, 

 but it is liable to split in the form of planks. The bark, which contains 

 much tannin, is largely used in S. India in the preparation of spirits 

 from sugar and palm-juice. 



7. A. Catechu, WilU. Sp. PI. iv, 1079 ; Boyle III. 181 ; Brand. For. Fl. 

 186 {in ^art) ; F, B. I. ii, 295 ; Watt E. D. ; Train in Journ. As. 8oc. Beng. 

 LXVI, part ii, SOs.—Yern. Khair. (Kuteh). 



A moderate-sized tree, with thorny branches and rough dark-coloured 

 bark. Branchlets glabrous, shining. Stipular spines in pairs, short, 

 recurred, dark-coloured, shining. Petiole 3-4 in., often prickly. Bachis of 

 leaves prickly and downy, with one gland below the lowest pair of 

 pinnae and at the insertions of the 3 uppermost pairs ; pinncB 20-40 pairs; 

 Leaflets 31-50 pairs, less than ^ in. long, linear. Spihes cylindrical, 2-4 

 in.j solitary or fascicled. Floivers sessile, pale-yellow. Corolla hairy, 

 2-3 times longer than the tomentose calyx. Pod 2-3 in., stalked, 

 straight, flat, dehiscent, dark-brown, shining, 5-6-seeded. 



Dehra Dun and Siwalik range, N. Oudh (Duthie's collector), Guna (King), 

 Gwalior (Maries), Saugor (Vicary), Bundelkhand (Edgeworth). Distkib. 

 Punjab at Hoshiarpur, and up to 3,000 ft. on the Outer 

 Himalaya, from Hazara to Garhwal, becoming scarce eastward to 

 Bengal and rare in Burma. Flowers May- July. The wood of this 

 tree is much valued for its hardness and durability, as well as from 

 the fact of its being proof against the attacks of white-ants. 

 It is used for rice-pestles, ploughs and for various other purposes- 

 for which such a wood is suitable. Charcoal prepared from it is 

 considered to be the best for blacksmith's work. The most im- 

 portant product, however, of this tree is the resinous extract known 

 as catechu or kutch, which is obtained by repeatedly boiling chips 

 of the heartwood in water until the solution acquires the consis- 

 tency of a thick paste. Full particulars regarding the three distinct 

 forms of catechu extract, their preparation, and the uses to which 

 they are applied, will be found in Dr. Watt's Dictionary article. The 

 pale kind of l-utch, known as I'ath, is that which is eaten in pan, and 

 used also medicinally by the Hindus. This tree yields also a superior 

 pale-yellow gum, which is largely collected. 



Vae. Sundra. A. Sundra, DC. Prod, ii, 45S ; W. Sf A. Prod. 273 ; 

 D. Sf G. Bomb. Fl. 86; F. B. I. ii, 295; Watt E. D. ; Prain in Journ, 

 As. Soc. Beng. i.e. A. Catechu, Brand. For. Fl. 186 (in part). Mimosa 

 Sundra, Boxb.; Fl. Ind. ii, 562.— Vern. Ldl khair. Pinnm 15—20 

 pairs ; rachis glabrous; leaflets 20—40 pairs. Calyx and corolla 

 glabrous. -Merw a ra ( Duthie ). Distrib. Kathiawar, Mt. Abu in 

 Kajputana (King), extending to f^'. India and Burma. The third 

 form of khair ( A. catechuoides, Benth. ) is not found within the 

 area of this flora. Botanically this latter may be regarded as in- 

 termediate between A. Catechu, Willd., and A. Sundra, DC, hav- 

 ing the hairy leaf rachis of the former and the glabrous calyx 

 and corolla of the latter. In accordance with the views of Eoxburgh,. 

 Baker and Prain they may each be considered as forms of hhair 



