652 XXXVII. EBENACEAE 



wholly or partially enclosed in the seed-coat, falhng with it, or sometimes 

 they extricate themselves, the testa falling to the ground, but they in their 

 turn soon fall, leaving the pointed plumule, from which the first pair of 

 foHage leaves soon expands. 

 The seedling (Fig. 249). 



Boots : primary root long, thick, terete, tapering, black, at first fleshy, 

 afterwards woody, minutely tomentose ; lateral roots moderate in number, 

 short, fibrous, chiefly in apical part of main root. Hypocotyl distinct from 

 root, lower portion 0-5-0-7 in, in length, swollen, grey or light greenish brown, 

 upper portion, 1 5-2-2 in. in length, compressed, pink or green turning dark 

 greenish brown, glabrescent or finely pubescent. Cotyledons : jDetiole 0-1 in. 

 long, channelled above ; lamina 1-1-3 in. by 0-4-0-5 in., foliaceous, oblong 

 lanceolate, entire, glabrous, pale pink, caducous, apices folded into the albu- 

 men. Ste7n erect, compressed, pubescent, dark greenish brown, young parts 

 red ; internodes 0-2-0-7 in. long. Leaves simple, exstipulate, first one or two 

 pairs opposite or sub-opposite, subsequent leaves alternate or sub-opposite. 

 Petiole 0-1-0-2 in. long, flattened above, minutely pubescent. Lamina 1-5-3 in. 

 by 0-4-0-7 in., oblong lanceolate, entire, dark green, smooth, shining, coriaceous, 

 glabrous above, pubescent on midrib beneath, young leaves red. 



The growth of the seedhng is very slow, averaging only a few inches 

 a year for the first three years. Seedlings raised at Dehra Dun attained the 

 following maximum heights by the end of the first five seasons : (1) 6 in., (2) 

 8 in., (3) 10 in., (4) 2 ft. 9 in., (5) 3 ft. 2 in. A long taproot is developed early, 

 and may attain a length of 9 in. within a month of germination ; its subsequent 

 growth is slower, a length of about 18 in. being ordinarily attained by the end 

 of the second season. 



In their earlier stages the seedlings are subject to the attacks of insects, 

 while birds, squirrels, and hares bite off the young shoots. Seedlings are 

 sensitive to frost and drought ; they require shade for their best development, 

 and are apt to die off if exposed to a hot sun. They also require plentiful 

 moisture in the soil. 



SiLVicuLTXJRAL CHARACTERS. The tree is a shade-bearer ; in the natural 

 state young plants develop freely under a fairly heavy canopy. It thrives 

 with abundance of moisture in the soil, and along streams and in swampy 

 ground it is sometimes found growing with its roots submerged in running 

 water ; very moist ground, however, is not essential for its growth, since it 

 is found wild, and is often cultivated, on ordinary loam, where it thrives, 

 provided the soil is not too dry. 



Natural reproduction. The seed is frequently spread by animals, 

 particularly monkeys and fruit-bats, and possibly also by birds ; groups of 

 seedlings have been observed in the forks of trees several feet above ground, 

 from seed carried by fruit-bats and passed out in their excreta. 



The fruits themselves fall to the ground from about June or July onwards, 

 and soon dry up or rot, the seeds being exposed ; provided the latter become 

 buried within a reasonable time, or are lying in a moist shady place, germination 

 takes place during the rainy season, but seeds lying exposed in the open usually 

 fail to germinate. 



Artificial reproduction. Seedlings can be raised in the imrsery and 

 transplanted successfully provided care is taken not to injure the long taproot. 



