v--- 



Spatholohus] 



XLV. LEGUMINOS^ 



229 



15. SPATHOLOBUS, Hassk. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. ii. 193. 



Woody climbers, with pinnately trifoliolate leaves, leaflets stipellate, the 

 two lateral opposite. Fl. small, in ample terminal panicles. Stamens dia- 

 delphous, anthers uniform, obtuse. Pod coriaceous, one seed at the end, lower 

 portion indehiscent. 16 species ; 9 Indian, 1 in tropical Africa, the rest in the 

 Malayan region. 



Fig. 98. — Spatholobus Eoxburgliii, Benth. Pod, leaf. ^. 



1. S. Roxburghii, Benth. — Syn. Butea parvijiora^ Poxb. ; Wight Ic. t. 

 210 ; Kurz F. Fl. i. 365. Vern. Maula, Mula, Hind. ; Phalsan, Mar. ; 

 AthamhUj Mai. ; Pauk-mve^ Burm. 



A huge climber, the stem fluted, often attaining 12-16 in. diam. The layers 

 of bast, which separate the masses of xylem, exude a red gum when cut. 

 Young shoots, inflorescence and underside of leaflets grey velvety. Leaflets 

 6-8 in. long, longer than broad, secondary nerves prominent beneath, 6-8 pair, 

 arcuate, anastomosing by intra-marginal veins. Fl. fascicled in cylindrical 

 panicled racemes, white, ^-| in. long, calyx teeth triangular acute, nearly as 



