Flora Medica

BOWDICHIA.Near Barbula, between New Valentia and Portocapello;in theLlanos of Barcelona, near Villa del Pao ; and on the banks ofthe Oronoco between Carichana and its confluence with theocean.A tree. Young branches downy, ferruginous. Leaves unequallypinnated leaflets ; about 13, lanceolate-oblong, rounded at each end,often emarginate, entire and rather revolute at the edge, netted, coriaceous,downy on each side, ferruginous on the ribs beneath, 6-7 lineslong, 5-5^ lines broad. Racemes terminal, 3 inches long and more,downy. Flowers violet, the size of those of Cercis siliquastrum.Calyx coloured, downy. Petals 5, somewhat papilionaceous, smooth,crisp at the edge. Legumes linear-oblong, somewhat falcate, compressed,tumid in the region of the seeds, membranous, transversely netted, witha narrow membranous margin on the ventral suture, about 2J incheslong by7 lines broad.BAUHINIA.Calyx either 5-cleft, or split up on the lower side and spathalike.Petals 5, spreading, oblong, slightly unequal. Antherbearingstamens either 1 and distinct, with 9 monadelphoussterile filaments ;or 3-5, with or without 1-7 sterile ones, allunited at the base, or distinct. Ovary stalked, containing 2 ormore ovules. Style ascending, rarely wanting. Stigma capitateor dilated. Legume 1 -celled, 2-valved, several- (rarely 1-)seeded. Seeds compressed, oval ;inner seed-coat tumid. Embryostraight radicle ovate ; : flat. cotyledons Trees or shrubs.Leaves consisting of 2 opposite distinct, or united leaflets.551. B. tomentosa Linn. sp. pi. 536. DC. prodr.ii. 514.Roxb. fl.ind. ii. 323. W. and A. i. 295. (Burm. zeyl 4-4-.t. 18.) Ceylon, Malabar, Coromandel mountains.Trunk straight. Branches numerous forming a compact bush.Young shoots shaggy. Leaves bifarious, stalked, roundish, deeply 2-lobed ;lobes oval, obtuse, parallel, 3-nerved, softly shaggy underneath ;stipules filiform, villous. Peduncles forked, 2-flowered. Flowers large,pale sulphur colour, drooping. Bracts 3, on the outside of the base ofeach pedicel. Petals oval, the upper one smaller, and sometimes markedon the inside with an oblong deep purple spot. Filaments 10, allfertile.Legume lanceolate, villous, 5-6 seeded. Dried buds andyoung flowers prescribed in dysentery, in India.*#* The leaves of several species are employed in Brazil, under thename of Unha de Boy, or Oxhoof, as mucilaginous remedies. Martins.TAMARINDUS.Calyx tubular at the base limb : bilabiate, reflexed : upper lip3-partite lower broad, ; 2-toothed. Petals 3, alternating withthe segments of the upper lip of the calyx; 2 of them ovate, themiddle one cucullate. Stamens 9-10 ; 7 very short and sterile ;265