LAGERSTROEMIA 601 



Corresponding age. 



years. 



36 



63 



94 



6 125 



The mean annual girth increment, 0-576 in., is identical with that esti- 

 mated for teak growing in tlie same forests. 



3. Lagerstroemia tomentosa, Presl. Vern. Lha, Burm. 



A large deciduous tree, reaching a height of 100 ft. or more, and a girth 

 of 10 to 12 ft. or more in favourable localities. Bole usually straight and 

 clean to a considerable height. Bark about 0-3-0-4 in. thick, light grey, fairly 

 smooth, with longitudinal cracks. Wood light grey to greyish brown, moderately 

 liard, close grained, fairh^ durable, used for planking, building, canoes, carts, 

 shafts, wheels, and furniture, and deserving of more notice for boxes and such 

 purposes. It has been tested and reported suitable for match manufacture. 



Distribution and habitat. The tree is common throughout the greater 

 part of Burma, except in the dry zone. It is found in evergreen and semi- 

 evergreen tropical forest, and in mixed deciduous forest of the upper and lower 

 types. In the upper mixed forests it is associated with teak, Xylia dolabri- 

 formis, and their common companions, usually occupying the lower slopes of 

 hills and well-drained valleys on deep rich soil ; in the drier types of mixed 

 forest it is either absent or is found in stunted form. In the lower mixed 

 forests on alluvial ground it is sometimes very plentiful, ])articularly in some 

 localities along the base of the eastern sIojdcs of the Pegu Yoma. 



In its natural habitat the absolute maximum shade temperature varies 

 from 100 to 110 F.. the absolute minimum from 40 to 55 F., and the normal 

 rainfall from 40 to 200 in. 



Leaf-shedding, flowering, and fruiting. The tree is leafless for 

 a time in the hot season. The panicles of handsome w-hite flowers, 1-1-3 in. 

 in diameter, appear in April-May, and the capsules (Fig. 227, a) commence to 

 ripen about November, dehiscing at various times up till Aj)ril ; they are 

 ovoid, 0-5-0-6 in. long, dark brown when ripe. The light winged seeds (Fig. 

 227, 6) are about 0-3 in. long ; they escape from the capsules chiefly during 

 the hot season and are carried by wind to some distance from the tree. Like 

 that of other species of this genus, the fertility of the seed is uncertain. Tests 

 carried out at Dehra Dun showed that the seed retains its vitality to some 

 extent for one year if carefully stored. At Peradeniya, Ceylon, where the tree 

 was introduced in 1891, flowering takes place twice a year, in April and October ; 

 this may also be the case sometimes in Burma. 



Germination (Fig. 227, c-f). Epigeous. The radicle emerges from the 

 end of the seed opposite the wing, the hypocotyl arches somewhat, and the 

 seed-coat is either left in or on the ground or is carried up, falling with the 

 expansion of the cotyledons. 



The seedling (Fig. 227). 



Roots : primary root moderately long and thick, terete, tapering, woody : 

 lateral roots numerous, long, fibrous. Hypocotyl distinct from root, 0-3-0-5 in. 

 long, quadrangular, glabrous. Cotyledons : petiole up to 0-06 in. long : lamina 

 0-2-0-3 in. by 0-25-0-3 in., foliaceous, sub-orbicular or broadl}^ obovate, apex 

 rounded, truncate or refuse, base tapering, entire, green. Stem erect, quad- 



