534 XXVII. COMBRETACEAE 



fruit to reach the soil and the germinating seedling to establish itself quickly, 

 and a fair amount of soil moisture. The light fruits tend to be washed into 

 heaps and the minute seedlings are also liable to be washed awaj^ considerable 

 mortality resulting. The young seedlings are apt to dry up if exposed to the 

 sun, and benefit by a certain amount of shade ; they are also apt to die off 

 in quantity on stiff water -logged soil, and good drainage appears to be 

 necessary for their establishment. The young crop often tends to come up 

 gregariously, where conditions are favourable, on newly exposed ground or 

 fresh alluvium. 



Artificial reproduction. Direct sowings are unsuitable, as the small 

 light fruits are liable to be washed away. Experiments at Dehra Dun showed 

 that the best results are attained in fine porous sandy soil in boxes or in well- 

 raised beds protected from sun and heavy rain ; watering should be frequent 

 but light. Germination ordinarily starts in two or three weeks and may- 

 continue for about three months. The plants transplant well during the first 

 rainy season when 3 to 4 in. high. 



6. Terminalia Catappa, Linn. Syn. T. procera, Roxb. Indian almond. 

 Vern. Badam, Beng. Known in the Anclamans as ' white bombway ', a cor- 

 ruption of the Burmese hanbwe {Carey a arborea). 



A large handsome deciduous tree with whorled branches and large glabrous 

 leaves which turn red before falling in the hot season. Bark smooth, grey, 

 stem often buttressed. The tree is a native of the Andamans and adjacent 

 islands and of the Malay Peninsula, in coast forests. It is extensively planted 

 in tropical India and in Burma, particularly round monasteries, both for 

 ornament and for the sake of its fruits, the kernels of which are eaten. 



In the Andamans it is common in the littoral forests on raised beaches 

 and deposits of sea-sand above high tide, associated with Calophyllum Ino- 

 'phyllum, Afzelia bijuga, Thespesia populnea, Heritiera littoralis, Erythrina 

 indica, Sterculia spp., Pongamia glabra, Odina Wodier, Hibiscus tiliaceus, and 

 Pandanus tectorius. It also extends into the padauk forests, where it is confined 

 to sandy soil as a rule not far from the sea, or to diluvial deposits formed of 

 detritus brought down by streams in flood. 



The whitish flowers, in axillary spikes, appear from February to May, 

 and according to Bourdillon again in October-November (Travancore). The 

 fruits ripen in June-July (also January, Bourdillon). The fruit is a yellowish 

 ellipsoidal drupe, somewhat compressed, 1-5-2 in. long, with a porous fibrous 

 to fleshy pericarp and a hard endocarp enclosing the edible seed. The fruit 

 is adapted for dissemination by water, the thick husk of porous tissue rendering 

 it buoyant. The tree is easily raised from seed, the fruits being sown in the 

 nursery about July and the seedlings transplanted during the following rainy 

 season. The tree grows best in a moist tropical climate. 



7. Terminalia paniculata, Roth. Vern. Kindal, kinjal, Mar. ; Hulve, 

 honal, bili-matti, Kan. ; Pulavdi, venmarudu, pumarudu, Tam. ; Nimiri, pula- 

 rnaddi, Tel. 



A large to very large deciduous tree. Bark 0-4-0-6 in. thick, dark brown, 

 rough, with numerous shallow longitudinal and transverse fissures. The lower 

 part of the bole is often much fluted. Heartwood light brown, very hard ; 

 wood used chiefly for planking, agricultural implements, and canoes, but not 



