150 
XXX. LEGUMIN OSiE 
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 J-f in. 
Valleys below Simla ; September-November. — Throughout India, ascending 
to 5000 ft. Often planted. 
4. Bauhinia variegata, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. ii. 284. A tree. 
Leaves glabrous, cordate, orbicular, 2-4 in., 2-lobed to about ^ 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 ; February-April. — Throughout India, ascending to 4000 ft. 
- — Burmah, China. 
The Kuchnar 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, 
J in., 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 xj 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. 
