150 
XXX. LEGUMINOStE 
This species is put to more uses than almost any other forest plant except- 
the bamboo. The large flat leaves are sewn together and used as plates, cups,, 
rough table-cloths, umbrellas, cloaks and rain- caps ; the seeds are roasted and 
eaten ; the fibres of the bark are made into ropes, and from the trunk exudes a 
copious gum. Native name Taur. 
3. Bauhinia purpurea, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. ii. 284. A tree. 
Leaves glabrous, cordate, ovate or orbicular, 4-6 in., 2-lobed 
nearly to the middle, lobes sometimes pointed. Flowers in 
pubescent racemes, often combined in panicles. Calyx-limb 
splitting to the base in 2 ultimately reflexed segments. Petals 
oblong-lanceolate, 1-2 in., pink ; margins waved. Stamens 3, 
occasionally 4. Pod glabrous, 6-12 x in. 
Valleys below Simla ; September-November. — Throughout India, ascending, 
to 5000 ft. Ofteh planted. 
4. Bauhinia variegata, Linn . ; FI. Br. Ind. ii. 284. A tree. 
Leaves glabrous, cordate, orbicular, 2-4 in., 2-lobed to about J of 
their length. Flowers in small, pubescent corymbs. Calyx-limb 
spathe-like, not splitting into segments, tip 5-toothed. Petals 
oblong, 2 in., light red-purple, upper one darker and often tinged 
with cream and red ; margins waved. Stamens 5. Pod glabrous, 
6-18 x | in. 
Sutlej valley ; Eebruary-April. — Throughout India, ascending to 4000 ft.- 
Burmah, China. 
The Kuclmdr or Geranium tree. Often planted. 
43. MIMOSA. Supposed to be derived from the Greek mimos , 
a mimic ; referring to the highly sensitive leaves of some of the 
species imitating animal movement. — Warm regions of America, 
Africa and Asia ; chiefly America. 
Mimosa rubicaulis, Lam. ; FI. Br. Ind. ii. 291. A prickly, 
pubescent, erect or half-climbing shrub. Leaves 2-pinnate, 3-6 in. ; 
pinnules 3-10 pairs ; leaflets 12-30, sensitive, narrowly oblong, 
Jin., acute, mid-rib close to the upper margin. Flowers minute, 
purple at first, afterwards changing to white, crowded in globose 
heads J-J in. diam., and forming terminal racemes. Calyx and 
corolla tubular, 4-toothed. Stamens 8, free, 2-3 times as long as 
the corolla. Style slightly longer than the stamens ; stigma minute. 
Pod stalked, glabrous, thin, flat, slightly curved, 3-5 x ^ in., the 
6-10 square, 1-seeded joints separating when ripe from between 
the persistent, marginal frame. 
Valleys below Simla; August, September. — Throughout India, ascending 
to 4000 ft. — Afghanistan. 
44. ACACIA. The classical name of some species of Acacia , 
probably A. vera. — Most warm regions. Species with the leaves 
reduced to flattened stalks are abundant in Australia. 
