TERMINALIA 533 



and much branched a great quantity of clean timber could be extracted from 

 them. 



Terminalia myriocarpa is essentially a tree of moist situations and rich 

 soil, and in Assam is often found associated with Bischoffia javanica. In its 

 natural habitat the absolute maximum shade temperature varies from 90 to 

 102 F., the absolute minimum from 33 to 45 F., and the normal rainfall 

 from 80 to 200 in. or possibly more. 



Flowering and fruiting. The panicles of small pink flowers appear 

 in October-November and the fruits ripen from March to June. The fruits 

 (Fig. 203, a) are small and light, 0-1-0-15 in. long, light yellowish brown, with 

 a pair of lateral membranous wings, the whole 0-4-0-5 in. in width. About 

 4,000 to 4,500 weigh 1 oz. The germinative power of the seed is fairly good, 

 tests at Dehra Dun showing a fertility of 63 per cent., which for a small light 

 seed is not unsatisfactory. Seed-year records show that the tree seeds well 

 as a rule every year. The trees are a very handsome sight when covered 

 with masses of pink blossom or yellow fruits. 



Germination (Fig. 203, b-d). Epigeous. The thin radicle emerges from 

 one end of the winged fruit and the cotyledons from the other ; the hypocotyl 

 quickly elongates, carrying above ground the cotyledons, which expand in the 

 meantime, and the yoimg shoot emerges from between them. 



The seedling (Fig. 203). 



Roots : primary root moderately long, terete, tapering, wiry : lateral roots 

 numerous, fine, fibrous, distributed down main root. Hypocotyl distinct from 

 root, 0-5-0 -8 in. long, thin, terete, cylindrical, tomentose. Cotyledons : petiole 

 0'l-0-15 in. long, flattened above, pubescent : lamina 0-1-0-2 in. by 0-15- 

 0-3 in., foliaceous, reniform or sub-orbicular, broader than long, apex truncate 

 or retuse, base tapering, entire, glabrous or minutely pubescent. Stem erect, 

 terete, green or red, rusty tomentose ; internocles 0-2-0 -7 in. long. Leaves, 

 first pair opposite, small, subsequent leaves larger than first pair, alternate, 

 exstipulate. First pair with petiole 0-1 in. long or less, tomentose, lamina 

 0-4-0-5 in. by 0-15-0-2 in., elliptical lanceolate, apex and base acute, entire 

 or obscurely serrate, glabrous or sparsely pubescent above, sparsely pubescent 

 beneath. Subsequent leaves with petiole 0-1-0-3 in. long, tomentose, lamina 

 0*1-2-8 in. by 0-4-1 in., elliptical lanceolate, acuminate, base acute, serrate, 

 pubescent, venation arcuate, lateral veins 6-10 pairs, nearly reaching the 

 margin ; later leaves of the first season with glands at the base. The serrate 

 leaves of the seedling are interesting ; the adult leaves of this species, and of 

 the whole order, are entire. 



In its early stages the seedling is minute, and is apt to be washed away 

 by rain before it gains a footing. It develops rapidly, however, and attains 

 a height of about 4-8 in. or more by the end of the first season. As in the 

 case of T. to^nentosa and T. Arjuna, the young plant has a tendency to produce 

 long straggling branches in place of a definite leader, but in spite of this its 

 height -growth after the first season is rapid. Sixteen plants gi"own at Dehra 

 Dun had a height of 4 ft. 8 in. to 7 ft. 3 in. by the end of the second season, 

 and 10 to 15 ft. by the end of the third season. 



SiLVicuLTURAL CHARACTERS. The tree bears a fair amount of shade and 

 is exacting as regards moisture. It is not known to produce root-suckers. 



Natural reproduction. The ideal conditions for successful reproduc- 

 tion are a loose porous soil free from weeds, in order to enable the small light 



