492 XXV. HAMAMELIDACEAE 



pure groups ; on such places it is frequently associated with Alnus nepalensis, 

 which also regenerates freely on newly exposed ground. It occurs sometimes 

 on precipitous ground. 



Flow^ering and fruiting. The tree produces flowers and fruits at 

 various seasons, and one tree in flower and another in fruit may be found 

 side by side. The fruit is a small globose capsule, in which the lower seeds 

 are winged and fertile and the upper ones are sterile. The seeds (Fig. 189, a) 

 are 0-2-0-3 in. long, compressed, angular, reddish brown, smooth, moderately 

 hard, light, about 7,000 weighing 1 oz. The small light winged seeds are 

 capable of being blown to a considerable distance by the wind. Good seed- 

 years are of frequent occurrence. Although seed is obtainable at almost any 

 time of year, Mr. J. R. P. Gent has observed that seed collected in March 

 gives the best results, possibly because the climatic conditions in the foUo^Aing 

 months are most favourable for germination and early development ; these 

 conditions are sufficient warmth and probable showers of rain in May. Great 

 care is necessary in collecting the seed. If collected a day or two before it is 

 actually ripe it will not germinate, while if collection be delayed too long 

 the seed wiU have escaped from the capsules. The fruits should therefore be 

 collected when they are just commencing to open and spread in the sun to 

 open them, the seed then being shaken out and sown at once. 



Germination (Fig. 189, b-i). Epigeous. The whitish radicle emerges 

 from one end of the seed, the hypocotyl elongates by arching and soon 

 straightens, carrying the cotyledons above ground. The testa is almost always 

 carried up over the cotyledons, and frequently adheres to the end of one of 

 them after they expand, eventually falling to the ground. 



The seedling (Fig. 189). 



Boots : primary root moderately long, at first thin and delicate, after- 

 wards wiry, flexuose : lateral roots numerous, long, fibrous. Hypocotyl 

 distinct from root, 0-5-0 -8 in. long, terete or slightly compressed, white or pink 

 turning green, minutely pubescent. Cotyledons : petiole about 0-05 in. long : 

 lamina 0-3-0-35 in. by 0-2 in., foliaceous, somewhat fleshy, elliptical or ovate, 

 apex rounded, entire, glabrous. Stem erect, terete or slightly compressed, 

 pubescent, appearing jointed owing to the ring-like scars left by the stipules 

 after falling. Leaves simple, alternate. Stipules 0-2 by 0-1 in. in young seed- 

 lings, up to 0-8 by 0-4 in. in second season, somewhat unequally elliptical, 

 pubescent, enclosing the terminal bud, deciduous. Petiole 0-2-2 in., pubescent. 

 Lamina 1-2-.5 in. by 0-9-2 in., cordate, acuminate, entire, glabrous above, 

 slightly pubescent beneath, venation arcuate with five prominent veins from 

 the base. The leaves increase considerably in size, to about 4-5 in. long and 

 broad in the second season. 



The growth of the seedling for the first few years is somewhat slow. It 

 reaches a height of only a few inches by the end of the first season, adding 

 a few inches more by the end of the second season ; plants raised at Dehra 

 Dun were 4-10 in. high at the end of the second season. The seedlings are 

 capable of stanrling a fair amomit of shade, but once established they develop 

 much better if full light is admitted ; shade tests at Dehra Dun showed that 

 they are killed by very dense shade. In heavy weed-growth the young plants 

 become suppressed, but if they surmount the weeds their strong leaders 

 penetrate through almost anything. At Dehra Dun they were found to damp 



