N. 0. CUPUJLIFER/E. 
1213 
oblong, 4-celled ; filament short. Females in small ovoid spikes 
at the ends of lateral hranclilets, consisting of very short joints, 
one flower under each tooth of the annular sheath. Perianth of 2 
large scales enclosing the ovary, which, as the seed ripens, grow 
out into 2 large woody valves, more or less hairy, supported 
before maturity by the tooth of the sheath. Ovary 1-celled, 
with 2 pendulous ; ovules, only one of which developes into a 
seed. Style short, dividing into 2 long filiform, garnet-coloured 
branches. Fruit a woody, globose cone, fin. diam. ; testa 
aduate to the walls of the achene, which terminates in a long 
membranous wing. Albumen 0 ; embryo straight, radicle 
superior ; cotyledons flat. The tree is monoecious the male and 
female flowers are sometimes, found on the same branch, but 
(as often happens with monoecious trees) some trees habitually 
bear male and other female flowers only. (Brandis). 
This is one of the most interesting plants in the vegetable 
kingdom as regards its morphological peculiarities as well des- 
cribed by Brandis. 
Uses : — The bark, according to Ur. Gibson, is an excellent 
and often readily available astringent in the treatment of 
chronic diarrhoea and dysentery. In infusion it is employed 
as a tonic. 
N. 0. CUPULIFERiE. 
1198. Betula utilis, Don Prod., h.f.b.i., v. 599. 
Syn . Betula Bhojpatra, Wall. 
Sans. : — Bhurjapatra. 
Vern . : — Bhejpattra (H.) ; Burj, Burzal, bhuj phurz (Pb.) ; 
Shak or shdg, pad, phatak, takpa (Ladak, Lahoul, Piti, and 
Kanawar); Phuspat (Nepal); Bhurjpatra, bhojpatra (Bomb./ 
Cutch and Guzerat). 
Habitat : — Temperate Himalaya, from Kashmir to Sikkim 
and Bhotan. 
A moderate-sized, deciduous tree, often gregarious, 40-50 feet 
or even 60ft., or shrub at high altitudes. Bark smooth, shining, 
reddish-white or white, with white, horizontally oblong lenticels, 
