Sugar of Mahiwa flowers.— Previous investigators have stated that the dried flowers contain about 60 per cent, of a readily fermentable, partially crystallisable sugar, of which 4-17 per cent, is described as cane sugar. E. O. Von Lippmann has examined samples of this sugar extracted from the freshly fallen flowers by means of alcohol. They consisted of an upper layer of pale yellow faintly acid syrup and about two-thirds of very hard crystals resembling sugar candy. The syrupy portion was found to consist of invert sugar, containing only traces of cane sugar, whilst the crystals were also identified as pure, crystallised invert sugar. This observation is of interest, as it appears to be the first record of the occurrence of invert sugar in such large and well-defined crystals. Whether the flower, originally contained cane sugar or invert sugar is a question which can only be decided by analyses on the spot. (J. S. Ch. I. May 81, 1902. p. 713).
722. B. longifolia, Linn., h.f.b.l, iii. 544; Roxb 410.
Vern. : — Moha, mohva (Hind.) ; Mohuva (Beng.) ; Darakhte-gulchakane (Pers.) ; Kat illupi. elupa (Tam.) ; Ippi, yeppa, pinna (Tel.) ; Mahwa, mohi (Bom.) ; Mahuda (Cutch) ; Mohácha-jháda, ippicha-jháda (Mar.); Mahudá, mová-nu-jháda (Guj.) ; Hippe, ippigridá (Kan.) ; Ellupi, irippa (Mal.).
Eng. : — The Mowa tree,
Habitat : — Western Peninsula, on the Ghâts from the Konkan southwards. Common in the moist forests of the Konkan and North Kanara ; often along the banks of rivers and nâlâs ; takes the place of B. latifolia, in the moist forests of the southern parts of the Bombay Presidency. (Talbot).
A large evergreen tree, young 50ft. high. Bark dark, yellowish grey, thick, slightly furrowed. Wood red, moderately hard, close grained. All young parts rusty- tomentose. Leaves clustered towards the ends of the branches. Leaves 4-5 by l½in., mature glabrescent, lanceolate at both ends. Primary nerves 12 on each side, distinct, secondary distinct. Petiole 1-1½in. Stipules linear, pedicels 1-2, tomentose, in dense clusters near the ends of the branches. Outer Calyx-segments nearly glabrous, inner finely tomentose (Brandis). Calyx-lobes ⅓-½in., ovate, subacute. Corolla ⅔in.; lobes usually six, scarcely ⅓ the length of the tube. Filaments hairy. Anthers 16, 2-serrate, subsessile, tips 3-toothed. The short mucronation of the
