celled, globose, fin. diam., " on bracteolate pedicels, ¼in. long," says Brandis. Seeds few, vertically imbircate, much compressed.
Uses: — The berries of this tree are known as "wild coffee." The roasted and powdered seeds were submitted to Brig-Gen. A. Kenney Herbert, a great authority on Indian cookery, and he reported as follows : — The percolated liquor had a remarkably pleasant taste, having a marked flavour of coffee. Indeed, the only difference I could detect was this : the liquor was not so dark in tint as coffee, being more golden-brown than dark brown, and the beverage brewed seemed not quite so strong as would have been produced by a similar quantity of coffee powder. There can be no doubt of the distinct coffee-like properties of this powder, and the absence of any twang or conflicting flavour to mar its pleasant taste (Pharmacographia Indica, Vol. II., p. 226).
607. Canthium didymum, Roxb. h.f.b.i., iii. 132 ; Roxb. 180.
Syn. : — Plectornia didynia, Kurz, Psydrax dicoccos, Gœru.
Vern. : — Garbhagojha (Santal) ; Yerkoli (Tam.) ; Yellal, porawa-mârâ, galkaranda (Kan.).
Habitat : — Sikkim Himâlaya, and distributed east to the Khâsia and Jayntea Mountains. Also met with in Chutia Nagpur and in the Western Peninsula, from the Concan southwards. .
A stout, evergreen, unarmed glabrous shrub, Leaves very variable, 2-6 by ½-4in., very coriaceous, polished above, usually obtusely caudate-acuminate, base acute obtuse or even cordate, nerve-axils eglandular ; petiole 1/6-⅓in. Cymes compressed, subsessile or on a short peduncle, ¼-lin., sometimes puberulous. Bracts short or 0. Flowers 5-merous. Calyx truncate or obscurely toothed. Corolla campanulate, tube 1/10-¼in. ; lobes 5, subacute. Style glabrous ; stigma subquadrate, notched or 2-fid. Fruit very variable, ¼-⅓in. globose or ellipsoid or obovoid compressed, subdidymous, putamen rugose. (J. D. Hooker).
