630 XXXIII. RUBIACEAE 



tive power of the seed is fairly high : tests carried out at Dehra Dun gave 

 a fertiHty of 77 per cent. 



Germinatiok (Fig. 241, b-g). Epigeous. The radicle emerges from one 

 end of the seed ; the hypocotyl elongates by arching, and in straightening 

 raises above ground the cotyledons enclosed in the testa, which falls to the 

 ground on their expansion. 



The seedling (Fig. 241). 



Roots : primary root moderately long, at first thin, afterwards thickening, 

 terete, tapering : lateral roots few to moderate in number, fibrous, distributed 

 down main root, Hypocotyl distinct from root, 0-6-1 in. long, terete, tapering 

 upwards, white turning green, minutely pubescent. Cotyledons : petiole less 

 than 0-1 in. long, flattened above, minutely pubescent : lamina 0-8-0-9 in. 

 by 0-5-0-6 in., foliaceous, ovate, acute, entire, green, glossy and glabrous 

 above, glaucous and glabrescent or minutely pubescent beneath, margins 

 sometimes fringed with fine hairs, venation arcuate. Stem erect, slightly 

 compressed, pubescent, in first season short, with internodes up to 0-3 in. 

 long. Leaves simple, opposite, sub-sessile or with short petioles bordered by 

 the decurrent leaf-base : lamina up to 1 in. by 0-5 in., ovate, elliptical, obovate 

 or oblanceolate, acute, base decurrent, entire, coriaceous, dark green and 

 glossy above, paler beneath, both surfaces sparsely pubescent, margin with 

 a fringe of fine hairs. Usually not more than two pairs of foliage leaves are 

 produced in the first season. 



The growth of the seedling during the first season is very slow, a height 

 of only 1-2| in. being attained. In the second season it is more rapid : nursery- 

 raised seedlings at Dehra Dun attained a height of 1| to 4| ft. by the end of 

 the second season, but under natural conditions, which are more unfavourable, 

 the growth is probably much slower. The seedlings are decidedly frost-hardy. 



SiLVicuLTURAL CHARACTERS. The tree is decidedly hardy as regards both 

 frost and drought. On low-lying grassy land subject to severe frosts it is 

 often one of the few species capable of existing. In the abnormal drought of 

 1907 and 1908 in the forests of Oudh it escaped injur}^ when many other 

 species were killed off in quantity. It is not readily browsed, even by goats. 



Natural reproduction. The fruits are eaten by birds and animals, and 

 the seeds are scattered by their agency. Those which are not eaten lie on the 

 ground, turning brown and drying up somewhat in the hot season, and becoming 

 partially eaten by white ants, or gradually rotting in the rainy season ; in 

 this case most if not all of the seeds lie ungerminated until the second rainy 

 season, when germination takes place. 



Artificial reproduction. There is little difficulty in raising this species 

 in the nursery and transplanting it. The seed should be sown about March 

 or April : germination is rather slow, the seedfings usually appearing about 

 six weeks to two months or more after solving. The seedlings should be 

 pricked out during the first rainy season and transplanted early in the second 

 rains. 



Rate of growth. The growth is slow to moderate. A cross-section 

 from the United Provinces in the silvicultural museum at Dehra Dun showed 

 37 rings for a girth of 2 ft. IJ in., giving a mean annual girth increment of 

 0-7 in. Gamble's specimens averaged 13 rings per inch of radius, giving a mean 

 annual girth increment of 0-48 in. 



