TERMINALIA 531 



The seedlixg (Fig. 202). 



Boots : primary root long, terete, tapering, wiry : lateral roots numerous, 

 fibrous, distributed down main root. Hypocotyl distinct from root, 2-2-3 in. 

 long, terete or slightly compressed, tapering slightly upwards, tomentose. 

 Cotyledons : petiole 0-3-0 -6 in. long, flattened above, tomentose : lamina 

 0-7-0-9 in. by 1-4-2-2 in., foliaceous, somewhat fleshy, reniform, much broader 

 than long, apex broadly truncate, base decurrent, entire, green, with three 

 conspicuous and two minor veins from the base. Stem erect, terete, pubescent ; 

 first internode, above the cotyledons, 1-8-2-2 in., subsequent internodes 

 0-2-1 in. long. Leaves simple, alternate, or first pair sub-opposite, exstipulate. 

 Petiole 0-2-0-3 in. long, flattened above, pubescent. Lamina 2-4-4 in. long, 

 elliptical lanceolate, apex and base acute, widely serrulate, sparsely pubescent, 

 or glabrous on the upper surface, venation sub-arcuate, lateral veins 8-12 

 pairs. 



The young seedling of this species is easily distinguished from those of 

 T. tomentosa and T. Chebula by the length of the hypocotjd and cotyledonary 

 petioles (see p. 519). 



The growth of the seedling during the first season is somewhat faster 

 than in the case of T. tomentosa, a height of about 5-12 in. being ordinarily- 

 attained under natural conditions, and a height of 1 ft. to 1 ft. 9 in. in the 

 case of nursery-raised plants. A fairly long taproot is developed early and 

 may attain a length of as much as 1 ft. within two months of germination. 

 As in the case of T. tomentosa and T. myriocarpa, the young plant during the 

 first few years tends to assume a straggling or branching formation, sacrificing 

 height-growth to the production of long side branches which bend over towards 

 the ground. This does not alwaj^s occur, however, and rapid height-growth 

 may take place from the commencement ; thus young tended plants at Dehra 

 Dun have attained a height of 6-10 ft., with a basal girth of 5-8 in., in three 

 years. In Berar seedlings have reached a height of 1^ ft. in two years, and 

 at Nagpur they have attained 3 ft. in 2^ years. Growth is stimulated by 

 regular watering and loosening of the soil. 



The seedlings are somewhat sensitive to frost, and are decidedly sensitive 

 to drought, both in the germinating stages and subsequently. They grow 

 well in full sunlight provided the ground is moist ; they also stand moderate 

 shade, but not dense overhead shade. In northern India the season's growth 

 ceases in November-December and new growth commences about March. 



SiLVicuLTURAL CHARACTERS. The tree is capable of standing more shade 

 than T. tomentosa. It has a more or less superficial root-system, and relies 

 for its moisture chiefly on the streams whose banks it frequents. It is some- 

 what tender to frost as well as to drought. Mr. C. M. McCrie ^ notes regarding 

 the abnormal drought of 1899 and 1900 that many trees along the banks of 

 the streams in the Nagpur district died owing to the lowering of the subsoil 

 water-level. The tree produces root-suckers and pollards well. Experiments 

 in Bombay have shown that it coppices well up to a girth of about 2| ft., 

 after which the coppicing power is indifferent. 



Natural reproduction. Under natural conditions germination takes 

 place early in the rainy season, and may actually commence with the early 

 showers before the monsoon proper. Numerous experiments at Dehra Dun, 



1 Ind. Forester, xxvi ( 1900), p 338. 

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