Slerculia] 



16. STEllCULIACli^E. 



43 



Silhot and Chittagong, W. Peninsula from N. Kilnara southwards. In 

 N. K^iiara I have found it in evergreen forests near Burboli at the base 

 of the ghats on the Kdlanaddi ; also near Sonda at about 2000 ft. altitude. 

 This tree, notwithstanding its seeds, admirably suited for dispersion by 

 water, is not common in the N. Kanara evergreen forests as far as I have 

 observed. Dalzell mentions two trees planted in a garden near Hewra 

 from seed obtained in N. Kanara, at KoorsuUee on the Kalanadi. Bo. 

 Fl. Suppl. 10. Fl. Feb.-March. Fr. ripe 0. S. Some of the trees near 

 Sonda were over 100 ft. high to the first branch by 4 ft. in diameter at 

 the base. Wood light, fibrous, dark grey with black lines on a section. 

 Pores moderate sized, scattered and filled with a black substance. Med. 

 itiys moderately broad, joined by distinct bars of light tissue. Weighs 

 39 lbs. to the cubic foot. Seeds eaten in Burma. 



2. HERITIERA, Ait. 

 Trees. Leaves coriaceous, simple, silvery scaly beneath. Flowers 

 small;, unisexual;, in axillary panicles. Calyx 4-7 cleft. Petals 0. 

 Staminal column slender, bearing a single ring of 5 anthers. Ovary ; 

 carpels 5 ; style short ; stigmas 5, thick ; 1 ovule in each cell. Fruit 

 woody, indehiscent, keeled or winged on back. 



H. littoralis, Dryand. in DC. Prod. 484 ; Fl. Br. I. 1. 363 ; Balz. & 

 Gibs. Bomb. Fl. 22 ; Bedd. Fl. Sylv. 33. Looking-glass Tree. Sandri- 

 chand, M. 



Tropical coasts of the old world, along the coasts and tidal rivers of 

 the E. & W. Peninsulas, Bengal, Burma and the Andamans. Fl. R. S. 

 Fr. Jan. ; remains long on tree. Along the banks of the Kalanadi 

 and near the coast of North Kanara at Karwar, but nowhere abundant. 

 Heartwood dark red, very hard and close-grained. Weighs about 65 lbs. 

 to the cubic ft. It is the chief timber of the Sunderbans forests. The 

 bark contains tannin. 



3. KLEINHOVIA, Linn. 



Tree. Leaves entire, palminerved. Inflorescence terminal. Sepals 

 deciduous. Petals unequal, upper with longer claws, margins 

 involute. Staminal column dilated into a 5-fid cup, divisions each 

 with 3 extrorse^ 2-celled anthers, cells divergent. Ovary 5-celled^ 

 inserted in the staminal cup ; style slender, stigma 5-fid. Capsule 

 membranous inflated, loculicidally 5-valved. Seeds tubercled ; 

 albumen scanty or ; cotyledons convolute ; radicle next the hilum. 



K. Eospita^ Linn. ; DC. Prod. 1. 488 ; Fl. Br. I. 1. 864 ; Dalz. & Gibs„ 

 Bomb. Fl. 23 ; Bedd. Fl. Sylv. 83. Southern Konkan, Nimmo (a doubtful 

 native, Dalz.). Planted throughout the presidency. 



4. HELICTERES, Linn. 



Trees or shrubs. Leaves simple. Flowers axillary^ solitary or 

 fascicled. Calyx tubular, 5-fid, often oblique. Petals 5, clawed, equal 

 or unequal ; claws elongated^ red, fading to a lead colour. Staminal 

 column adiiate to gynophore. Anthers 5-10; cells divaricating_, ol'tea 



