ALBIZZIA 477 



A large tree with a long clean bole, often branching at a considerable 

 height and forming a somewhat light crown. Bark smooth, light yellowish or 

 greenish grey, exfoliating in thin flakes, red inside. The sapwood is large, 

 whitish, the heartwood brown with streaks of darker or lighter colour, used 

 for house-posts, agricultural implements, &c. 



Distribution and habitat. Throughout the sub-Himalayan tract, 

 common from the Jumna eastwards, Assam, Bengal, Chota Nagpur, the Indian 

 Peninsula, Burma, and the Andamans. The tree is found most commonly on 

 alluvial ground along streams and in moist, even swampy places ; it is par- 

 ticularly common in low-lying moist savannahs, as in the Duars of Bengal 

 and Assam, in Burma and elsewhere ; in such places it is often gregarious, 

 the clean light-coloured boles being very conspicuous (see Fig. 180). It is in 

 many localities also a common species in mixed forests, generally on moist 

 alluvial ground. In the Dehra Dun valley it is one of the constituents of the 

 swamp forests, along with Trewia nudi flora, Ficus glomemta, Pterospermum, 

 aceri folium, Cedrela Toona, and other swamp species. 



In its natural habitat the absolute maximum shade temperature varies 

 from 98 to 115 F., the absolute minimum from 30 to 65 F., and the normal 

 rainfall from 40 to 200 in. 



Leaf-shedding, flowering, and fruiting. The tree becomes almost 

 leafless for a short time during the hot season, from April to June, according 

 to locality : Haines ^ says there may be a second flush of new leaves in August 

 growing through the flowering panicles. The large panicles of yellowish white 

 flowers appear from June to September. The pods soon commence forming, 

 and in the cold season, especially from October to January, they have a rich 

 red colour, the trees at this time being particularly handsome with the masses 

 of red pods against the green foliage. The pods ripen from February to May, 

 and are then dark reddish brown, 4-8 in. long by 0-5-0-9 in. broad, thin, 

 strap-shaped, 6- to 12-seeded, dehiscent. The seeds (Fig. 182, a) are 0-2-0-3 in. 

 by 0-15-0-25 in., flat, elliptical to nearly orbicular, hard, smooth, greenish 

 brown, with a leathery testa ; about 500-850 weigh 1 oz. 



The pods fall from the trees for the most part during the hot season, 

 dehiscing before or about the time of falling. The seed germinates readily, 

 and is less subject to insect attacks than that of A. Lebbek. It retains its 

 vitality for at least a year ; two tests of seed one year old at Dehra Dun 

 showed 23 and 80 per cent, of fertility respectively. 



Germination (Fig. 182, b-e). Epigeous. After the emergence of the 

 radicle the hypocotyl arches slightly, carrying the cotyledons above ground; 

 the testa is either left on or in the ground, or, less commonly, carried up over 

 the cotyledons, falling with their expansion. 



The seedling (Fig. 182). 



Roots : primary root long, at first thin, becoming fairly thick in vigorous 

 plants, terete, tapering, wiry, whitish at fii^st, becoming yellow or light brown : 

 lateral roots few, somewhat short, fibrous, distributed down main root : 

 nodules present. Hypocotyl distinct from root, 1-2-2 in. long, cylindrical, 

 green or pinkish. Cotyledons sessile or sub-sessile, 0-35-0-4 in. by 0-2 in., 

 elliptical, flat, somewhat fleshy, base sagittate, entire, green, glabrous. Stem 

 erect, terete, wiry ; internodes 0-2-1 -5 in. long. Leaves alternate, compound. 



^ For. Flora Chota Nagpur. 



