NAUCLEA 625 



forming dense pure patches. The seeds are minute like those of Adina cordi- 

 folia and Stephegyne diversifolia, and a further study of this tree will probably 

 reveal points of resemblance to those species, particularly as regards reproduc- 

 tion. The wood is used for planking and building. 



5. HYMENODICTYON, Wall. 



Hymenodictyou excelsum, Wall. Syn. H. thyrsiflorum, Wall. ; H. utile, 

 Wight ; Cinchona excelsa, Roxb. Vern. Kukurkat, bhaulan, bauranga, Hind. ; 

 Bhorsal, Mar. ; Pottaka, Tel. ; Kusan, Burm. 



A large deciduous tree, usually with a straight cylindrical bole and a 

 rounded crown. Bark greyish brown, thick, soft, corky and furrowed on 

 stems of older trees, smooth on poles and branches. Wood white when fresh, 

 turning darker, soft, light, used for planking, boxes, scabbards, toys, &c. ; 

 has been reported as excellent for match manufacture. In northern India, 

 however, the trees have often been noticed to be riddled with large burrows, 

 probably those of a longicorn beetle, and the quality of the wood suffers in 

 consequence. 



Distribution and habitat. Scattered throughout the greater part of 

 India and Burma in dry mixed deciduous forests. The tree is particularly 

 common on loose dry deposits of boulders and debris along the base of the 

 outer hills in the sub-Himalayan tract. It is one of the characteristic trees 

 of the bhabat' tract of the United Provinces, a deep boulder formation on 

 gently sloping ground where the subsoil water-level is at a great depth ; here 

 among its commoner companions are Holoptelea integrifolia, Lagerstroeniia 

 parvifolia, Acacia Catechu, Bombax rnalabaricum, Terminalia belerica, Adiiia 

 cordifolia, Anogeissus latifolia, Cassia Fistula, and Odina Wodier. It is also 

 frequently met with on sandy or stony soils on alluvial ground near rivers, 

 and in savannah lands. It is not infrequent in the sal forests of northern 

 India. 



In its natural habitat the absolute maximum shade temperature varies 

 from 98 to 118 F., the absolute minimum from 30 to 60 F., and the normal 

 rainfall from 35 to 90 in. 



Leaf-shedding, flowering, and fruiting. The large broadly elliptical 

 long-stalked leaves turn a rich yellow and fall in November-December at 

 a time when few other trees are shedding their leaves. The new leaves do 

 not appear until about May, and throughout the intervening months the 

 leafless trees are conspicuous with their candelabra-like fruit-panicles sub- 

 tended by pairs of dry leafy reddish brown bracts. The small white fragrant 

 flowers, in large terminal panicles, appear from June to August. The capsules 

 are conspicuous from November-December onwards, but do not open and shed 

 their seeds until April-May : they are two-valved, elHpsoidal, 0-5-0-7 in. long, 

 and contain many seeds. 



The seeds (Fig. 240, a) are flat, winged all round the margin, 0-3 by 0-1 in. 

 including the wing ; they are very hght, about 4,800 weighing I oz., and are 

 disseminated to a distance by the hot weather winds. Tests carried out at 

 Dehra Dun showed that the fertility of fresh seed is high, but that the seed 

 loses its vitality within a year. 



2307.2 u 



