550 xx\t:ii. myrtaceae 



The narrow-leaved variety, cart/ophyllaefolia, Lam., is mentioned by 

 Haines ^ as being very common in dry open forest on the hills of Singhbhum, 

 Palamau, and Manbhum ; this variety, as noted below, exhibits the xerophytic 

 character of dying back in the seedling stage. 



In Burma the tree occurs in various types of mixed deciduous forest, 

 both upper and lower, in tropical evergreen forest, and in indaing (dry diptero- 

 carp) forest on laterite, here again occurring in a xerophytic environment. 

 In Travancore it is common on the Peermerd plateau at 4,000 ft., and else- 

 where in the evergreen forests of the hills (Bourdillon). 



In its natural habitat in India and Burma the absolute maximum shade 

 temperature varies from 95 to 118 F., the absolute minimum from 28 to 

 65 F., and the normal rainfall from 35 to over 200 in. 



Leaf-shedding, flowering, and fruiting. The leaves usually com- 

 mence falling about January and continue falling during February and March. 

 The new leaves, which are coppery red in colour, appear in February -March. 

 In dry localities the trees become almost, if not quite, leafless for a short time 

 early in the hot season. Sometimes trees with large quantities of blossom 

 become almost leafless. 



The panicles of small greenish white sweet-scented flowers appear chiefly 

 from March to May. The fruit (Fig. 210, a), which ripens from June to August, 

 is an oblong-obovoid or sub-globose juicy berry, 0-5-1 in. long, or larger mider 

 cultivation, purplish-black, smooth and shining when ripe, with a thin skin 

 and a pink succulent flesh, which is edible though somewhat astringent. The 

 seed (Fig. 210, &) is 0-4 0-8 in. long, shaped like the fruit, or tw^o to five angular 

 and irregularly shaped seeds are compressed together into a mass resembling 

 a single seed, the whole enclosed in a sub-coriaceous covering. 



The germinative power of fresh seed is high, but the seed very quickly 

 loses its vitality. The fruits fall as soon as they ripen ; they are eagerly 

 devoured by birds and flying foxes, and the seed is spread by their agency. 



Germination (Fig. 210, c, d). Hypogeous. The covering enclosing the 

 seeds quickly rots off, leaving the green interior (cotyledons), which usually 

 breaks up into two or more portions, from each of which a seedUng is pro- 

 duced ; usually two or three, sometimes four or even five, seedlings emerge 

 from one fruit ; the cotyledons remain in or on the ground. 



The seedling (Fig. 210). 



Roots : primary root moderately long and thick, terete, tapermg, wiiy : 

 lateral roots numerous, moderately long, fibrous, distributed down main root 

 or often crowded at its base. Hypocotyl very short and scarcely distinguish- 

 able, subterranean. Cotyledons irregular in shape and size, angular, fleshly, 

 green, subterranean. Stem erect, quadrangular, green or pinkish, glabrous ; 

 internodes 0-2-1 -2 in. long. Leaves simple, exstipulate, fii'st few often abortive, 

 1-0-2 in. long, sometimes alternate or sub-opposite, subsequent normal leaves 

 opposite. Petiole 0-1 in. long or less, channelled above. Lamina 0-7-2 in. 

 by 0-4-1 in., ovate, obovate or elliptical, apex acute or sometimes obtuse, base 

 acute, entire, glabrous, coriaceous, aromatic when crushed. 



The development of the seedling is slow during the first season, but under 

 favourable conditions is more rapid during the second and subsequent years. 



^ For. Flora Chota Nagpur, p. 351. 



