646 XXXVI. SAPOTACEAE 



internodes 0-4-3 in. long. Leaves simple, first pair opposite or sub-opposite, 

 subsequent leaves alternate. Stipules 0- 1-0- 15 in. long, linear, pubescent. 

 Petiole 0-1-0-2 in. long, pubescent. Lamina 1 6-4-5 in. by 1-3-2 in., elliptical 

 or ovate, apex and base acute, or base sometimes obtuse in first pair, entu-e, 

 pubescent or glabrescent ; young leaves often coppery brown ; lateral veins 

 9-16 pairs. 



The growth of the seedling is moderate, a height of 6 in. to 1 ft. being 

 attained in the first season and a height of about 1 to 2 ft. being ordinarily 

 attamed by the end of the second season. A long but somewhat fragile taproot 

 is developed rapidly, the length being sometimes as much as 1 ft, within 

 a month of germination, and 2 ft. by the end of the first season. Frost is 

 unknown in the natural liabitat of the tree ; seedlings raised at Dehra Dun 

 were found to be very frost-tender. 



Artificial reproduction. In spite of the long fragile taproot the seed- 

 lings can be transplanted successfully with care during the first rainy season 

 when about one month old. Fresh seed should be sown about June-July and 

 well covered with earth. The most satisfactory method is to sow the seeds 

 direct in long pots or baskets, or to prick them out into these from the seed- 

 beds when about one month old, and to plant the seedlings out without dis- 

 turbance of the root-system early in the second rainy season. 



3. Bassia butyracca, Roxb. Vern. Phalwara, phulwa, chmra, Hind. 



A large deciduous tree with leaves somewhat larger than those of B. lafi- 

 folia, and crowded near the ends of the branches. Bark dark grey. The 

 seeds furnish a white vegetable butter. 



The tree occurs in the sub-Himalayan tract and outer Himalaya from the 

 eastern Dun eastwards, ascending to 5,000 ft. In the hills it is found chiefly 

 along the sides of ravines. It flowers in the cold season, and the fruits ripen 

 in June-July ; the seeds are 0-7-0-8 in. long. The growth is fast. A cross- 

 section 3 ft. 5 in. in girth, without bark, in the silvicultural museum at Dehra 

 Dun had 46 rings, giving a mean annual girth increment of 0-9 in. Gamble's 

 specimens gave three to four rings per inch of radius, representing a mean 

 annual girth increment of 1-57 to 2-1 in. 



ORDER XXXVII. EBENACEAE 



DIOSPYROS, Linn. 



This genus, which contains nearly 50 Indian species, is of importance 

 chiefly as containing the ebony-yielding trees. The true jet-black ebony of 

 commerce is yielded by D. Ebenum, Koenig, Avhich is of more imj)ortance in 

 Ceylon than in India. The commonest Indian black ebony tree is D. McJano- 

 xylon, Roxb. (including D. tomentosa, Roxb.), the heartwood of whicli, though 

 not so jet black as the true ebony, is used to a considerable extent in India 

 for carving and turning. Of variegated ebonies the best knowai are tlie cala- 

 mander wood of Ceylon {D. quaesita, Thw.) and the marble-wood or zebra- 

 wood of the Andamans {D. Kurzii, Hicrn.). 



Silvicultur-ally this genus requires further study. Several species thrive 

 ill dry regions, foi- exam])le D. Melanoxylori, D. burmanica, D. Ebenum, 



