364 MR. H. M. CHIBBER ON THE MORPHOLOGY 
The lamina. "The blade is simple, thick, coriaceous and ovate-cordate. 
The surfaces are glabrous to the naked eve; the upper one is deep green and 
shining, while the lower is light green and dull. The margin is entire 
and distinetly but very narrowly reeurved. 
As to the base, two distinct types occur: in one it is distinctly cordate 
and even, in the other it is acute and oblique. The groove along the upper 
surface of the petiole broadens out here into a triangular notch. The apex 
is acute or shortly acuminate. The blade may or may not be symmetrical. 
The relations between length and breadth of the blade vary very much, so as 
to give rise to two distinct shapes, which may be described as broadly ovate 
and ovate-oblong (РІ. 17. figs. 3 & 4). The former may measure 16:25 em, 
by 12:5 em. and the latter 15 em. by 875 cm. As regards the veins, they 
are pale white and freely projecting on the lower surface. The midrib at 
its base projects prominently on the upper surface as well for about 2:5 em., 
while there is a faint indication of projection on the upper surface as regards 
the rest of the midrib and all the veins. The number of secondary veins 
varies from three to five or more on either side. All except one pair start 
immediately from the base, which thereby becomes palmate. The single 
pur which is left out of the base is inserted within an inch of it. In the 
leaf with a cordate base (РІ. 17. fig. 3) the veins are very symmetrically 
arranged on either side of the midrib. In the oblique type (РІ. 17. fig. 4) 
this symmetry is disturbed in two ways: their origin is not opposite, but 
somewhat alternate, and their distance from the midrib at any level along 
their course is unequal. Both these disturbances in symmetry are very 
marked in the case of the solitary uppermost pair. A leaf that is perfectly 
symmetrical in outline and venation is known in the Deccan as a female 
leaf and highly prized by fastidious eaters of the leaves, A leaf that is 
defective in this respect is known as a male leaf, All the secondary ribs are 
arcuate ; the topmost and isolated pair takes а parabolic course. This pair 
terminates in the apex of the leaf, where they meet each other. The lowest 
or outermost pair merges into a marginal vein. The intermediate pairs arch 
very strongly towards their tips upwards, and unite with a tertiary vein given 
off by a secondary immediately over it. The tertiary veins fall into two 
groups: one group is constituted by veins given off by the secondaries on 
their outer or convex side, which are just a little thinner than the secondaries 
that give rise tothem. These are also arcuate, and are so disposed as to form 
a succession of overlapping arches gradually reduced in size upwards. The 
other group is constituted by what may be termed the eross-ties *. They 
occupy the whole of the central arches on either side of the midrib and the 
lower parts of the other arches (Pl. 17. figs. 3 & 4). 
The sheath has the shape of a hollow cone slit open on one side: 
* See the terminology of Dr. Н. M. Ward in his ‘ Trees,’ vol. ii. 
