TERMINALIA 513 



alternate, exstipulate. First leaf sometimes under 0-3 in. long, ovate lanceo- 

 late, acute or acuminate, pubescent. Subsequent leaves with petiole 0-1-0-2 in. 

 long, tomentose ; lamina 0-8-4-5 in. by 0-5 -2 in., ovate, acute, entire, pubescent, 

 bright green above, somewhat paler beneath, venation arched reticulate, 

 lateral veins 4-10 pairs. 



The young seedling of this species can be distinguished from those of 

 T. tomentosa and T. Arjuna by the length of the hypocotyl and the cotyle- 

 donary petioles (see p. 519). 



The growth of the seedling is comparatively slow, a height of about 

 4-8 in. being ordinarily attained by the end of the first season, increasing to 

 1-2 ft. by the end of the second season. The year's growth ceases about 

 November ; the leaves commence falhng that month, and the seedling is 

 leafless in January-February, new growth commencing about March (Dehra 

 Dun). Young plants are fairly frost-hardy. 



SiLVicuLTURAL CHARACTERS. The tree is a light-demander, though in 

 youth it stands slight shade and even benefits by side protection from the 

 sun. It is fairly hardy against frost as well as drought. It withstands 

 fire well, and has good powers of recovery from burning. It coppices fairly 

 well. 



Natural reproduction. The fallen fruits often become partially buried 

 by rain, the soil round them being blackened with the tannin they contain. 

 The fleshy portion becomes partly eaten by white ants or disintegrates, leaving 

 the hard nut exposed. Germination takes place in the rainy season, some- 

 times not until the end of that season, or in some cases not until the following 

 year. The scarcity of natural reproduction in some localities is very noticeable, 

 and is a matter which requires further study. Where the collection of myra- 

 bolans is carried out extensively, the removal of the fruits would be sufficient 

 to account for it. On the other hand, the lack of reproduction may be attribut- 

 able to some extent to the poor germinative power of the seed and to the fact 

 that it is much subject to the attacks of insects, rats, and squirrels. Numerous 

 fruit-stones found lying ungerminated after the end of the rainy season have 

 been split open, and almost invariably the seed has been found to be destroyed 

 by insects. The seed germinates better if it has become covered with earth 

 or debris than if it is lying in the open. 



Artificial reproduction. Sowings on mounds, in patches or trenches, 

 and otherwise have been carried out for years, but with very indifferent 

 success, owing in part at least to the poor germinative power of the seed and 

 to its liability to the attacks of insects, squirrels, and rats. 



Experiments at Dehra Dun showed that transplanting from the nursery 

 can be carried out successfully in the first or second rainy season. The most 

 successful method of raising plants in the nursery was found to be by drying 

 the fruits thoroughly, removing the hardened fleshy covering, and sowing the 

 fruit-stones in boxes before the rainy season, covering them with earth and 

 watering them regularly. Even with this treatment a success of only 20 per 

 cent, was attained. Soaking the fruits in moist manure for some days was 

 found to have no effect in stimulating germination. For artificial reproduc- 

 tion the fruits should be collected from the ground as soon as they fall, and not 

 off the tree. 



2307.2 N 



