362 XXIII. LEGUMINOSAE 



parts minutely puberulous. Leaves alternate, compound, earlier leaves with 

 one pair, later leaves with two or three pairs of leaflets, fost few leaves abortive 

 and scale-like. Stipules up to 0-15 in. long, falcate acuminate. Common 

 petiole (earlier leaves) 0-4-1 -5 in. long. Leaflets with thick petiolules 0-1- 

 0-15 in. long, lamina 1-5-3-5 in. by 0-6-1 -2 in., obliquely ovate acuminate, 

 entire, coriaceous, gland-dotted, glabrous or lower surface minutely puberulous 

 in young leaves, lateral veins numerous. The seedling ordinarily attains 

 a height of about 8 in. in the first season, with a taproot 1 ft. or more in length. 



The growth of the seedling appears to be somewhat slow. Mr. H. Tireman 

 informs me that young plants raised from seed sown in 1914 under moderate 

 shade in an abandoned kumri in Coorg had an average and maximum height 

 in January 1918 of ft. 11 in. and 2 ft. 9 in. respectively. 



Rate of gro"\vth. Bourdillon says that the annual rings are marked by 

 dark lines, and that the rate of growth is about 12 rings per inch of radius, 

 giving a mean annual girth increment of 0-52 in. 



5. SARACA, Linn. 



Saraca indiea, Linn. Asoka tree. Vern. Asok, ashok, Hind. 



Though not an important forest tree, this tree is often planted for orna- 

 ment or for religious purposes ; it is one of the most sacred trees of the Hindus 

 and Buddhists, the flowers being much used for religious ceremonies and temple 

 decoration. It is found wild along streams, or in the shade of the evergreen 

 forests, in the Khasi hills, Chittagong, Arakan, Tenasserim, Upper Bm-ma, 

 the Northern Circars, and the west coast of Bombay. The clusters of fragrant 

 orange or red flowers appear from January to April or May. The tree is 

 interesting as furnishing an example of drooping young leaves without chloro- 

 phyll, like those of certain other evergreen trees, for example Amherstia 

 nobilis, Mesiui ferrea, Mangifera indiea, PolyaUhia fragrans, and others. The 

 leaflets of the young leaves are red in colour, thin 'and flaccid, and hang 

 vertically downwards for some time after attaining full size. 



6. AMHERSTIA, Wall. 



Amherstia nobilis, Wall. Vern. Thaivka, Burm. 



This, one of the most beautiful flowering trees in the world, is an evergreen 

 tree indigenous in Tenasserim and cultivated in the moister parts of Burma 

 and southern India. The flowers are crimson to yellow or salmon pink, in 

 large candelabrum-like pendulous racemes hanging amongst the handsome 

 foliage. The young leaves are of a rich red or purplish colour and hang flaccid 

 (see under Saraca indiea above). The tree is somewhat difficult to cultivate, 

 being delicate when young and requiring a rich soil and a warm moist equable 

 climate. It may be raised from seed in pots or baskets, but can best be 

 propagated by layering in the hot season and planting out during the rains. 

 It is cultivated successfully in Ceylon, but seldom ripens its seeds there ; it 

 flowers during the greater part of the year, but chiefly from January to March. 



7. TAMARINDUS, Linn! 



Taniarindus indiea, Linn. Tamarind. Vern. Imli, amli. Hind. ; Himase, 

 Kan. ; Chinch, Mar. : Pidi, Tam. ; Chiiifa, Tel. ; Pulinje, Coorg ; Magyi, 

 Burm. 



