LAGERSTROEMIA 



603 



It occurs also in evergreen forest, but usually in the form of large trees surviving 

 from a former deciduous forest into which the evergreen species have encroached. 



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

 a time in the hot season. The small white flowers appear from April to June, 

 and the fruits ripen in the cold season. The small hght seeds fall early in the 

 hot season and germinate at the beginning of the rains : they are carried by 

 the winds to some distance from the tree. Mr. H. Tireman mentions that he 

 has twice tried to raise seedlings in Coorg, but on neither occasion did any seed 

 germinate : this would indicate that the germinative power, like that of other 

 species of this genus, is uncertain. 



Silviculture and natural reproduction. The factors influencing 

 natural reproduction require further study. So far as is known the seedlings 

 do not stand exposure to a hot sun, and benefit by slight shade, while they 

 require a fair amount of moisture in the soil. Bare loose soil aids natural 

 reproduction, which appears freely on abandoned cultivation. The seedling 

 is capable of bearing considerable shade, but later the tree benefits by an 

 abundance of light, though it is less hght-demanding than teak. Fire does 

 not appear to do much harm to reproduction, though it produces hollows at 

 the bases of the trees. In the moister tj^pes of forest fire-protection has had 

 an adverse effect in encouraging the growth of dense evergreen vegetation 

 which has prevented the reproduction of this and other light-demanding 

 deciduous trees. Mr. H. Tireman notes that the limited amount of grazing 

 in Coorg is beneficial in keeping down undergrowth and favouring natural 

 reproduction. The tree coppices well. 



Rate of growth. 1. High forest. The following table has been com- 

 piled from measurements, based on ring-countings, recorded in high forest 

 working plans in the North Kanara district, Bombay : 



Lagerstroemia lanceolata : rate of growth in diameter in high forests of the 



North Kanara district, Bombay. 



Measurements by P. E. Aitchison. 



