642 



XXXVI. SAPOTACEAE 



good flowering years are eagerly looked forward to. They do not occur every 

 year, but, as far as records go, one to two good crops may be expected every 

 three years. An otherwise promising crop is sometimes destroyed by hail 

 before the flowers are developed. Trees are said to commence bearing crops 

 of flowers and fruit when about ten years old. The yield of mohiva (corollas) 

 per tree is said to be about a maund (82 J lb.) a year when fifteen years old, 

 increasing to two maunds when in full bearing. 



Germination (Fig. 246, 6-/). Hypogeous. Germination commences 

 with the development of thick cotyledonary petioles, as in the case of many 

 oaks. These petioles, which are not visible in the seed, reach a length of 

 0-6-1 in., and assist the radicle to make its way into the ground and the 

 plumule to extricate itself from between the fleshy cotyledons, which are in 

 close contact. The cotyledons remain underground, the testa brealdng open 

 as they swell. 



The seedling (Fig. 246). 



Roots : primary root long, thick, terete, tapering, light brown and delicate 

 in early stages, soon becoming rough and woody : lateral roots at first few 

 and short, afterwards longer and more numerous, fibrous, distributed down 

 main root. Hypocotyl very short, subterranean, white turning green or reddish. 

 Cotyledons : petiole 0-6-1 in. long, thick, fleshy, flattened, glabrous : lamina 

 1 in. by 0-6 in., thick, fleshy, oblong, outer surface convex, inner flat or slightly 

 concave. Stem erect, terete, pubescent ; first internode 1-2 in., subsequent 

 internodes 0-5-1-3 in. long. Leaves simple, first pair opposite or sub-opposite, 

 subsequent leaves alternate, first few leaves sometimes small and scale-like. 

 Stipules 0-15 in. long, linear. Petiole 0-1-0-2 in. long, channelled above. 

 Lamina 1-4 in. by 0-7-1-5 in., elliptical, oblong or ovate, apex and base acute 

 or more rarely obtuse, entire, glabrous above, slightly pubescent beneath, 

 especially on the veins, young leaves often coppery red. 



The growth of the seedling is comparatively slow, and weeding and 

 watering, though they stimulate development to some extent, appear to have 

 a less marked effect on it than is the case with many other species. The follow- 

 ing measurements of seedlings in experimental plots at Dehra Dun give some 

 idea of the rate of growth under different conditions : 



Bassia latifolia : rate of growth of seedlings, Dehra Dun. 



Maximum 2 ft. in. 



Condition under which 



grown. 1st season. 



In nursery (weeded and Maximum ft. 5 in, 



watered) 

 Natural conditions (not | (i) Maximum Oft. 4 Jin. ( 1) Maximum 1 ft. 2 in. 



weeded or watered) in full ^ ^ ^^ 3 . ^^ ^^ ^^.^^_ 2 Maximum 1 ft. in. 



sunlight ) ^ ' 



Sowings, irrigated and weeded ft. 1 1 in.-O ft. 5 in. 

 Sowings, irrigated but not ft. 1 f in.-O ft. 4f in. 



weeded 

 Sowings, weeded but not irri- ft. 1 1 in.-O ft. 6 in. 



gated 

 Nursery-raised traiLsplants . . Maximum 1 ft. 1 in. 



(planted out in second rains) 



Height at end of season. 

 2nd season. 3rd season. 4th ses 



( 1 ) Maximum 2 ft. in. 



ft. G in.-O ft. 10 in. Maxiii 



3 ft. 

 Maximum 1 ft. 4 in. 



Growth ceases from November to February, the new leaves appearing in 

 March (Dehra Dun). Young plants are somewhat frost-tender. 



SiLVicuLTURAL CHARACTERS. The tree has a large spreading root-system. 



