FLORA OF ADEN . 
187 
Flowers in lax axillary racemes ; bracts small caducous. Calyx 
divided nearly to the base ; segments 5, membranous, slightly unequal, 
imbricate or subvalvate. Petals 5, spreading, the upper the broadest. 
Stamens 10, free ; filaments pilose at the base ; anthers uniform, versatile. 
Ovary narrowed to the base, many-ovuled ; style subfiliform ; sti gma 
terminal. 
Pod turgid, moniliform, finally dehiscent. Seeds 1 — 6 or 8, oblong 
or subcylindrical, albuminous. 
Species 3. 
Distribution : — America and the Cape. 
The following species is cultivated near the tanks of Aden (Busse) 
and in the village of Shaikh Othman (Defl.). 
I, Parkinsonia aculeata L, DC. Prodr. II, 486. 
Description : — A glabrous shrub or small tree with sharp woody 
spines. Pinnae 1 — 3 pairs, 6 — 12 inches long, rhachis flattened, striate. 
Leaflets numerous, minute, oblanceolate, obtuse. 
Flowers in lax axillary racemes ; pedicels •§•- — -§ inch long, jointed near 
the top. Calyx J inch long, divided nearly to the base ; segments oblong* 
obtuse. Petals yellow, broadly obovate or suborbicular, with a villous claw. 
Filaments flattened, villous at the base. Ovary silky -villous ; ovules 
many. 
Pods 3— ~4 by J — § inch, moniliform, attenuated at both ends,, 
glabrous 
This plant is indigenous in tropical America, but cultivated in most 
tropical countries. In India it is naturalized, where it is grown chiefly as 
a hedge plant in the drier districts. 
Uses .-—-The natives of Aden use this plant for various purposes. 
The bark is employed against consumption in cattle, the flowers and seeds 
against fever, and the bast for the manufacture of paper. 
4. Cnesalpinia Linn. 
Trees or climbing shrubs, unarmed or armed. Leaves large, abruptly 
pinnate ; stipules various. 
Flowers yellow or red, in axillary or terminal racemes or panicles. 
Calyx deeply cleft, with the disk confined to its base; segments 5, imbri- 
cate, the lowest concave or boat-shaped. Petals distinctly clawed, orbi- 
cular (rarely oblong), spreading, imbricate, subequal or the uppermost 
(the inner) smaller than the others. Stamens 10, free, decimate; fila- 
ments often villous or glandular at the base ; anthers uniform, dehiscing 
longitudinally. Ovary sessile or sub sessile ; ovules few; style filiform, 
sometimes clavate at the apex ; stigma terminal. 
