480 XXIII. LEGUMINOSAE 



Distribution and habitat. Sub-Himalayan tract and slopes and valleys 

 of the Himalaya up to 5,000 ft., Bengal, Chota Nagpur, the Indian Peninsula, 

 and Burma ; also in the low country of Ceylon. The tree is widely distributed, 

 being a common constituent of many types of mixed deciduous forest, where 

 it grows sporadically. It is frequently found on hill slopes, and sometimes in 

 valleys. In northern India it is common in the outer Himalaya and in the 

 Siwalik hills : it extends throughout the greater part of the Indian Peninsula in 

 dry as well as in moist deciduous forests. In Ajmer-Merwara it is one of the most 

 important species, growing in dry forests on hill slopes with Anogeissiis pendula, 

 Acacia Catechu, BoswelUa serrata, and other trees. In Burma it is common 

 in the upper mixed forests with teak and its associates, extending into the 

 drier types where the teak is associated with Pentacme suavis, Shorea obtusa, 

 Dalbergia cuUrata, Phyllanihus Emblica, &c. In Bombay it is common in the 

 moist monsoon forests of North Kanara *nd the Konkan and also in the dry 

 Deccan, ascending to 3,700 ft. in the Khandesh Akrani (Talbot). Bourdillon 

 says it is common on grass-lands and in open forest tln-oughout Travancore 

 up to 3,000 ft. 



In its natural habitat the absolute maximum shade temperature varies 

 from 100 to 120 F., the absolute minimum from 30 to 60 F., and the normal 

 rainfall from 25 to 120 in. 



Leaf-shedding, flowering, and fruiting. The leaves commence falling 

 about December (northern India), and the new leaves appear in March- April. 

 The tree sometimes becomes quite leafless for some little time, but more 

 commonly the new leaves appear before the old ones have all fallen. The 

 pale yellowish white fragrant flower-heads in large terminal panicles appear 

 from April to June, and by October the pods are full-sized but still green : 

 they commence ripening in December (northern India), or earlier farther 

 south, falling during the hot season and dehiscing as a rule after falling, though 

 some may hang for a long time on the tree, dehiscing before falling. When 

 ripe the pods are 5-12 in. long by 1-1-3 in. broad, reddish brown or purplish 

 green with darker markings over the seeds, flat and flexible, eight- to twelve- 

 seeded. 



Silvicultural characters. The tree stands a certain amount of shade 

 in youth, but may be classed as a moderate light-demander. It is not exacting 

 as regards soil, though on poor soil it is somewhat stunted. Its roots are largely 

 superficial, and numerous root-suckers are produced. The young plants are 

 susceptible to frost, and plantations formed in Ajmer-Merwara are reported 

 to have failed for this reason. The tree coppices well, and in Ajmer-Merwara 

 the shoots are said to reach a height of 10 ft. in two years, but are liable to be 

 killed by frost : natural seedlings are reported to be plentiful in sheltered 

 places where the soil is good.^ 



Rate of growth. The only measurements available are those recorded 



by Mr. Gamble from wood specimens examined by him, the average of which 



showed 4 rings per inch of radius or a mean annual girth increment of 1-57 in. 



5. Albizzia lucida, Benth. Burmese siris. Vern. TJiantJia.t, Burm. 



A large tree with thin greyish bark and a full crown of handsome dark 



green foliage, the leaflets fewer and larger tlian in other species of this genus. 



^ Working Plan for the State Forests of Ajmer-Merwara. 1896. 



