380 XXIII. LEGUMINOSAE 



As regards coppice, the following figures resulting from measurements 

 made in 1910 by Mr. C. M. McCrie in the Ramgarh coppice coupes, Gorakhpur, 

 United Provinces, indicate that the rate of growth for a time is fairly fast : 



Bauhinia racemosa : rate of growth of coppice, Gorakhpur. 



2. Bauhinia maIabarica,Roxb. Y em. Amli,imli,amlosa, Hind. ; Karmai, 

 Beng. ; Shadlu, Kan. ; Atthi, Tarn. ; Aram puli, Mai. ; Bwechln, Burm. 



A moderate-sized tree, evergreen or nearly so, with a bushy crown of dark 

 green foliage ; leaves 2-3 in. long, broader than long, cleft about one-third of 

 the length, acid to the taste, unlike those of B. racemosa, which they resemble 

 somewhat otherwise. Bark rough, dark brown, exfoliating in long strips, pink 

 to red inside. The wood is used only for fuel. 



Distribution and habitat. Throughout the greater part of India and 

 Burma, but not in the driest tracts, in deciduous forests usually of a moister 

 type than those in which B. racemosa is found. It is a common accessory 

 species in the sal forests of India, in the teak and lower mixed forests of Burma, 

 and in the moist forests of western and southern India. 



In its natural habitat the absolute maximum shade temperature varies 

 from 95 to 110 F., the absolute minimum from 32 to 62 F., and the normal 

 rainfall from 40 to 120 in. or more. 



Flowering and fruiting. The dull whitish flowers, in small axillary 

 racemes, appear from August to October, and the pods develop rapidly, ripen- 

 ing from January to March, and often hanging in large quantities on the trees. 

 The pods are 7-12 in. long by about 0-75 in. broad, fiat, flexible, many seeded, 

 tapering gradually to a point. The pods either dehisce on the trees towards 

 the end of the hot season or fall before dehiscing. The seeds (Fig. 148, a), 

 of which about 320 weigh 1 oz., retain their vitality to some extent for one 

 year. 



Germination (Fig. 148, b-e). Epigeous. The radicle emerges and 

 descends, and the hypocotyl elongates by arching ; the cotyledons, enclosed 

 in the testa, are raised above the ground, and the testa falls with their expan- 

 sion. 



The seedling (Fig. 148). 



Roots : primary root moderately long, terete, tapering : lateral roots 

 moderate in number and length, fibrous. Hypocotyl distinct from and thicker 

 than the root, 0-3-0-8 in. long, terete or slightly compressed, fusiform or taper- 

 ing slightly upwards, sparsely covered with minute stiff hairs. Cotyledons : 

 petioles 0-06 in. long, flattened above ; lamina 0-8-1-1 in. by 0-6-0-7 in., 

 foliaceous, somewhat fleshy, oblong or elliptical, entire, sparsely covered with 

 minute stiff hairs, 5-vcined from the base. Stem erect, terete or slightly com- 

 pressed, somewhat zigzag at the nodes, pubescent. Leaves simple, alternate, 

 acid. Stipules 0-15 in. long, linear falcate, pubescent. Petiole 0-4-0-6 in. 

 long, pubescent. Lamina 0-5-1 in. by 1-2 in., broader than long, cleft to 



