IIIPTEA, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Legumi "loom, named after Johu, Earl of Bute, a great patron of botanists. It has a cainpanulate calyx, 5-toothed, the two superior teeth approximate and almost connected ; the corolla with a lanceolate spreading vexillum ; keel incurved, equal in length to wings and vexillum ; the stamens diadelphous; the legume stipitate, compressed, flat, membranous, indchiscent, 1-seeded at the apex ; the seed large, compressed. The species are natives of the East Indies. They arc unarmed trees, with pinnately trifoliate leaves, with racemes of deep scarlet flowers.
B. frondosa has pubescent branches ; roundish obtuse or emarginate leaflets, velvety beneath; the corolla four times the length of the calyx ; the calycine teeth rather acute. It is a native of mountainous districts in I lindustan. A red juice flows from this tree, which when evaporated is found to consist principally of tannin, and is brought into the market under the name of East Indian Kino. The juice of
the common flowers, which in this species are two inches long, gives to water a bright yellow colour similar to gamboge. This property is also possessed by the dried petals. "The Inc insects are frequently found upon the smaller branches of the tree, but whether the natural juices of its bark contribute to improve their red colouring matter has not been determined." (G. Don.) superba has glabrous branches ; roundish ovate obtuse leaflets, velvety beneath ; the corolla four times the length of the calyx ; calyx teeth acute. It grows on the mountains of CoromandeL It resembles the last species, but is larger in all its parts. It yields the same kind of juice. There are two other species described.
(G. Don, Gardener's Dictionary ; Lindley, Vegetable Kingdom.)