HOLARRHENA 



665 



for the first time in May 1913 and bore numbers of good fruits in February- 

 March 1914. Under natural conditions, where the plants do not develop so 

 vigorously, flowering does not take place so early, as has been observed in the 

 case of plants grown under natural conditions at Dehra Dun ; in the forest, 

 however, plants still in the condition of shrubs may often be observed in 

 flower. 



Germination (Fig. 255, 6-/). Epigeous. The radicle emerges from the 

 end of the seed : the hypocotyl arches slightly, soon straightening and carrying 

 above ground the cotyledons with the testa usually enclosing their extremities. 

 The cotyledons, which are convolute in the seed, unroll themselves and expand, 

 and the testa then falls to the ground, often adhering for some time to one of 

 them before falling. 



The seedling (Fig. 255). 



Roots : primary root moderately long, terete, tapering, wiry, white turn- 

 ing yellow or light brown, pubescent : lateral roots numerous, moderately 

 long, fibrous, pubescent, distributed down main root. Hypocotyl distinct 

 from root, 1-2-2 in. long, terete, tapering upwards, white turning green, 

 minutely pubescent. Cotyledons : petiole less than 0-1 in. long, channelled 

 above, pubescent : lamina 0-9-1 -1 in. by 0-5-0-7 in., foliaceous, cordate, 

 acute, entire, bright green, glabrous, or slightly pubescent near the base on 

 the under side, convolute in the seed, 5-veined from the base, the three central 

 veins more prominent than the two lateral veins, subsidiary veins reticulate. 

 Stein erect, terete, woody, pubescent ; internodes 0-5-1-3 in. long. Leaves 

 simple, opposite, exstipulate. Petiole 0-15 in. long, channelled above. Lamina 

 1-7-3-5 in. by 0-6-1-3 in., ovate lanceolate, acute or acuminate, base acute 

 and slightly decurrent, entire, glabrous, lateral veins 6-9 pairs. 



Under natural conditions the seedling grows somewhat slowly during the 

 first season, as a rule reaching a height of about 4 to 6 in. by the end of the 

 year ; in subsequent years the growth is more raj)id. Weeding and watering 

 greatly stimulate growth. Seedlings are frost-tender and are also liable to be 

 kiUed by drought during the first season, mortality from the latter cause being 

 considerable. Young plants are fairly light-demanding, and suffer from sup- 

 pression : they are sometimes liable to serious defoliation by caterpillars. 

 The leaves of seedlings fall from December to February, new groAvth com- 

 mencing in March (northern India). 



The following measurements in experimental plots at Dehra Dun give 

 some indication of the rate of growth of young plants under different con- 

 ditions : 



Holarrhena antidysenterica : development of seedlings, Dehra Dun. 



Height at end of season, 

 ndition under which grown. 1st season. 2nd season. 3rd season. 4th season. 



Nursery plant, weeded and 1 ft. 5 in. 6 ft. 6 in. 10 ft. 5 in. 13 ft. in. 



atered 



rransplants of first rains, not Maximum 1 ft. 6 in. Maximum 3 ft. 2 in. 1 ft. 9 in. -4 ft. in. 



eeded or watered after trans - 



anting 



Broadcast sowing, weeded, Oft. Sin. ,, 1 ft. 2 in. Maximum 3 ft. 9 in. 



)t watered 



Line sowings, weeded, not ,, Oft. Tin. ,, 1ft. Gin. 



atered 



Natural conditions (among Oft. 4iin. 1ft. Tin. 1 ft. 10 in. 5 ft. 5 in. 



eeds) 



