146 
FLO BA OF ADEN. 
Flowers white, fragrant, in branched glabrous panicles shorter than 
the leaves ; bracts minute, lanceolate, caducous. Calyx puberulous 
outside, divided almost to the base ; lobes rotund-ovate, minutely 
eiliolate. Petals inch long, obovate-oblong, faintly puberulous 
outside, ciliolafce. Staminal tube glabrous, a little shorter than the 
petals, obconic, the lacinise truncate and toothed at the apex ; anthers 
1 0, opposite the lacinise and a little shorter than them, apiculate. 
Disk 0. Ovary glabrous, 3-celled, the cells opposite to the petals ; 
ovules 2 in each cell, collateral ; stigma 3-toothed, included in the 
tube. 
Drupes the shape of an olive, ^ — -| inch, glabrous, 1-seeded 
Locality : — Shaikh Othman (Busse ex Krause); naturalized. 
Uses : — This tree is of considerable economic importance. “ From the 
bark there exudes a bright amber-coloured gum, which is collected in small 
tears or fragments. This is said to constitute a portion of the commercial 
f gum gattie , 3 and f of East India Gum/ It is considerably esteemed 
medicinally as a stimulant. From the seeds a fixed acrid, bitter oil is 
extracted, of a deep yellow colour and disagreeable flavour. As an 
anthelmintic and antiseptic it is in much demand. The barks of trees 
are often painted with it to protect them from insect pests. By the 
women of Sind it is applied as a hair wash. In addition to the gum nnd 
011, the bark, young fruits, seeds, leaves, flowers and sap have all 
medicinal properties assigned to them or are spoken of as edible. The 
leaves are utilised to preserve books, papers, cloths, etc., from ravages of 
insects. They are said, moreover, to be useful in keeping away mos- 
quitoes. Hooper (Rept, Labor. Ind. Mus. Indust. Sec., 1903-04, 30 — 1) 
records the results of his investigations. Fresh leaves were distilled in 
water. It was found that a distinct allyl- or onion-smelling compound 
was present in the distillate. The powdered leaf, when burnt, gave off 
an odour found to prove fatal to insects. The extract of the leaves was 
intensely bitter and contained evidence of an alkaloid. 
“ The sap ... is yielded by the tree either spontaneously or is extracted 
artificially. In the former case, a clear and colourless liquid flows in a 
thin stream or continuous droppings from two, three or more parts of the 
plant simultaneously for several weeks on end. Artificially it is obtained 
by exposing a healthy-looking root, cutting it through, and placing a 
vessel beneath to receive the exuding liquor; which is a refrigerent, 
nutrient and alterative tonic. The wood is durable, has an average 
weight of 50 to 52 lb. per cubic foot. Its chief use is for cart-con- 
struction, ship-building, agricultural implements, and in South India for 
furniture. The twigs are largely used as tooth-brushes.^ Watt. 
