BASSIA 



645 



Bassia latifoUa : coppice measurements, Gorakhpiir. 



2. Bassia loiigifolia, Linn. Vern. Ijypi, Kan. ; Pedda ippa, Tel. ; Illupei, 

 Tarn. ; Meze, Burm. 



A large evergreen tree with a dense spreading crown and lanceolate leaves 

 clustered at the ends of the branchlets. Bark yellowish grey to brown, red 

 and milky inside. The wood is similar to that of B. latifolia : in Arakan it is 

 used for ships' keels and is said to be very durable, resisting the attacks of 

 the teredo. The flowers and seeds are used in the same way as those of B. 

 latifolia. It is an excellent avenue tree. 



Distribution and habitat. This tree replaces B. latifolia in southern 

 India. It is indigenous chiefly in the monsoon forests of the Western Ghats 

 from tlie Konkan southwards, where it is common along the banks of rivers 

 and streams and in ravines : it extends into the Deccan. It is also common 

 in many parts of southern India, where it is frequently cultivated as an avenue 

 tree and for the sake of its flowers and fruits. In Arakan it is said to be in- 

 digenous in the Sandoway and Kyaukpyu districts : it is occasionally planted 

 elsewhere in Burma. Although found wild most commonly in rather moist 

 regions, it can be grown in comj^aratively dry localities. 



Flowering and fruiting. The flowers, which have fleshy corollas like 

 tliose of B. latifolia, appear in November-December in Bombay (Talbot), 

 from February to May in Travancore (Bourdillon). The fruits rif)en about 

 June. The seeds (Fig. 247, a) are 1-2-1 -6 in. long by 0-5-0 -7 in. in diameter, 

 comjjressed, light brown, smooth, shining, with a fairly thick and hard testa ; 

 about 180-200 weigh 1 lb. The fertility of fresh seed is high, but the seeds do 

 not retain their vitality long. 



Germination (Fig. 247, h~e). Hypogeous, and similar to that of B. 

 latifolia. It commences with the development of thick cotyledonary petioles, 

 which, however, are not so long as those of B. latifolia ; these assist the radicle 

 to make its way into the ground and the plumule to extricate itself from 

 between the fleshy cotyledons. The cotyledons remain underground within 

 the testa. 



The seedling (Fig. 247). 



Roots : primary root long, thick, terete, tapering, woody, pubescent 

 when young : lateral roots moderate in number, fibrous, distributed down 

 main root. Hypocotyl distinct from root, 1-1-5 in. long, thick, subterranean. 

 Cotyledons : petiole 0-3-0-4 in. long, broad, thick, flattened, somewhat fleshy, 

 bent to one side of stem : lamina 1-1-2 in. by 0-4-0-5 in., thick, fleshy, obliquely 

 oblong, outer surface convex, inner flat. Stem erect, terete or slightly com- 

 pressed, green or reddish, young parts pubescent, later becoming glabrous ; 



