107. F. sepiaria, Roxb. h.f.b.i., i. 194. Roxb. 739.
Vern. : — Kondai (H.); Sherawane, hargal, dajkar, jidkar khatai, kingaro (Pb.); Atruna; tâmbat (Bombay); Conrew, kana regu (Tel.); Sottacla (Tamil); Couron moeli (Malay.); Jootay Karoonday (Dec.); Bainch (C. P.)
Habitat :— Throughout Bengal, the Western Peninsula, notably in the north of Thana district, Ceylon.
A small, thorny shrub or tree. Bark yellowish-red, thin. Wood light red, hard, close and even-grained. Stem much branched, with the branchlets ending in sharp pointed rigid spines. Leaves 1-2 in., in fascicles, cuncate-ovate, or oblong, tapering to a petiole, very obtuse, more or less crenate-serrate, glabrous, stiff. Flowers yellowish diœcious, solitary or few, very small, in axillary racemose clusters shorter than the leaves. Sepals acute; pilose. Disk lobular, stigmas 3-4, very short, recurved, usually separate, on very short styles. Berry like a pea, globular, ⅓ in., smooth, purple, acid-sweet when ripe, much appreciated, as it makes a refreshing drink with sugar and water. Thorns usually bearing flowers and fruit.
Use : — This tree yields an antidote to snake-bite from an infusion of the leaves and roots. The bark triturated in Sesamum oil, is used as a liniment in rheumatism (Wight; Ainslie; Rheede.) The ripe fruit, pea-shaped, is very savoury.
108. Gynocardia odorata, R. Br. h.f.b.i., i. 195.
Syn. : — Chaulmoogra odorata, Roxb. 740.
Vern. :— Chaulmoogra, Chhalmugra, Choulmungri (Hind.); Chaulmugri, petarkura (Beng.); Kadu (Nepal); Tuk-kung, (Lepcha); Chaulmugra (Bomb.); Tungpung (Magh.).; Taliennœ, (Sing.); Brinjmogra (Pers.); Ta fung-tsze (Chinese).
Habitat : — From Sikkim and the Khasia hills eastwards to Chittagong.
A moderate-sized evergreen tree, perfectly glabrous, readily recognized by the hard round fruits which grow on the
