507 . 



1. TERMINALIA, Linn. 



This genus is of great importance both silviculturally and economically ; 

 it comprises ten Indian species, all trees, some of which reach large dimensions. 

 The climatic and other requirements of the species vary considerably, T. 

 Oliveri being confined to the driest parts of Burma, while others such as 

 T. myriocarpa, T. paniculata, T. bialata, and T. Catappa are characteristic of 

 the moister regions, the last named being essentially a littoral species. T. 

 tomentosa, T. Chehula, and T. helerica are very widely distributed, while 

 T. Arjuna is pecidiarly restricted to the banks of streams, where, however, it 

 is often abmidant within its region. 



The fruits vary. They are drupaceous in T. helerica, T. Chebula, and 

 T. Catappa, ordinarily 5-winged in T. tomentosa, T. Arjuna, and T. Oliveri, 

 unequally 3- winged in T. paniculata and T. myriocarpa, and broadly 2- winged 

 in T. bialata. The germinative power of the seed is variable. In T. Chebula- 

 it is poor, in T. belerica usually good, while in the other important species it is 

 more variable but often indifferent. Germination is hypogeous in T. belerica 

 and epigeous in T. tomentosa, T. Arjuna, T. Chebula, and T. myriocarpa. 

 The straggling habit of the young plant is a peculiar feature in certain species, 

 notably T. tomentosa, T. Arjuna, and T. inyriocarpa ; young plants of T. 

 belerica are erect. 



Species I. T. belerica, Roxb. ; 2. T. Chebula, Retz. ; 3. T. tomentosa, W. 

 and A. ; 4. T. Arjuna, Bedd. ; 5. T. myriocarpa, Heurck and Muell. Arg. ; 

 6. T. Catappa, Linn.; 7. T. paniculata, Roth; 8. T. bialata, Steud. ; 9. T. 

 Oliveri, Brandis. 



1. Terminalia belerica, Roxb. Vern. Bahera, Hind. ; Tare, Kan. ; Goting, 

 bherda. Mar. ; Tani, Tam. ; Tandi, Tel. ; Thitsein, Burm. (Fig. 195.) 



A large deciduous tree, attaining a height of 120 ft. and a girth of 10 ft. 

 or more, usually with a straight tall bole ; large trees are often buttressed at 

 the base. Bark bluish or ashy grey, with numerous fine longitudinal cracks, 

 yellow inside. Leaves broadly elliptical, 4-8 in. long, clustered at the ends of 

 the branchlets. Wood yellowish grey, hard, not durable, but lasts fairly well 

 under water, used for planking, packing-cases, boats, and other purposes. 

 The fruits are used for tanning, but are inferior to those of T. Chebula. 



Distribution and habitat. The tree is found in deciduous forests 

 throughout the greater part of India and Burma, but not in arid regions. It 

 is a common associate of the sal, the teak, and other important trees, occurring 

 more or less scattered and not gregariously. In the Indian Peninsula it occurs 

 most frequently in moist valleys. In Burma it is fairly common in deciduous 

 forests both of the upper and of the lower mixed types, with or without teak. 



In its natiu?al habitat the absolute maximum shade temperature varies 

 from 97 to 115 F., the absolute minimum from 30 to 60 F., and the normal 

 rainfall from 40 to 120 in. or more. 



Leaf-shedding, flowering, and fruiting. In northern India the 

 leaves commence falling in some cases as early as November, some trees being 

 almost leafless by the end of that month, while others may be in full leaf till 

 the end of January. The trees remain leafless until March to May, when the 

 new foliage appears. The spikes of small greenish white flowers appear in 



