Balsa modendron] 



V"VT7TTT ■RTTT?QT?'P A HTP 3? 



133 



ing the pulp exposed, wliicli encloses tlie nuts, wliich are bony, 1-seeded and 

 partially connate. Embryo straight, the radicle pointing upwards, cotyledons 

 thin, crumpled and plaited. Species 10, India, Arabia, tropical and southern 

 Africa. 



1. B. Berryi, Arn. ; Bedd. EL Syly. t. 126 ; Brandis, E. EL 65. 



A small fragrant, very thorny tree, branchlets spinescent, at right angles to 



Fig. 68. — Balbamodenclron Berryi, Am. J. 



branches. L. 3-foliolate, petioles slender, leaflets sessile, obovate, glabrous, 

 generally entire, the terminal larger than the lateral ones. EL subsessile, 

 fascicled, disk small, bearing G-S stamens, alternately smaller, the longer ones 



than calyx. Drupe 



in 



the male flower stamens 



longer 



opposite to petals, 

 oblong, apiculate. 



Dry f orebts in the southern Deccan, cultivated as a hedge plant all over South India. 

 Fl. February, March. Dry parts of Ceylon. 2. B. pubescens, Stocks, Hook. Journ. Bot. 

 i. (1849) t. 9 (Commiphora Stochsiana, Engler) (Ba^i/a, Bai, Baluch.) Baluchistan and 

 hills of South-Western Sind, as far south as Karachi, an unarmed pubescent shrub or 

 small tree,leaves trifoliolate, geneially crowded on short arrested branchlets, distant on 

 vigorous shoots and then often imparipinnate. Fl. 4-nieroub, stamens 8, equal. Drupe 

 red, pulp orange-coloured. 



3. B. Mukul, Hook. ; Stocks in Hook. Journ. Bot. i. (1841)) t. 8. Brandis, 

 E. El. 64. Vern. Gugal^ Sind, Eajputana. 



A stunted shrub or dwarfed tree, branches thick, spreading, branchlets often 

 spinescent. Trunk knotty, the outer bark coming off in rough flakes, leaving 

 exposed an inner layer, which is bright, shining, and peels off in rolls like 

 thin paper. L. generally approximate at the ends of thick short arrested 

 branchlets, obovate, almost sessile, the tapering base entire, the upper part 

 toothed. On luxuriant shoots the leaves are distant, trifoliolate, the lateral 

 leaflets small. EL unisexual, subsessile, 2 or 3 together, petals 4-5, strap- 

 shaped, stamens 8-10, alternately longer. Drupe red when ripe. 



4. B. Roxburghii, Arn. (CommijyJwra AgaUocliay Engler), Assara, Silhet, 

 East Bengal, spinescent. L. on slender petioles, at the ends of which are 

 often 2 minute leaflets, fl. red. 



Sind, Baluchistan, Kattiawar, Eajputana, Khatidexsh, Bellary, El Aug.-October. 



