668 XL. APOCYNACEAE 



Holarrhena antidysenterka : measurements in coppice coupes, Gorakhpur. 



Mean height. Mean girth. ISIean height. Mean girth. 



Age. Holarrhena. Sal. Holarrliena. Sal. Age. Holarrh&im. Sal. Holarrhena. Sal. 



vears ft. ft. in. in, years. ft. ft. in. in. 



^ o 4-0 30 .. .. 10 120 15-3 3-7 4-8 



4 6-5 7-0 1-7 20 12 13-6 17o 4-3 5-8 



6 8-5 10-3 2-5 2-9 14 15-2 19-2 4-8 6-7 



8 10-4 13-0 3-2 3-8 16 16-8 20-9 5-3 7-5 



2. ALSTONIA, R. Br. 



Alstonia scholaris, R. Br. Vern. Satni, satian, Hind.; Satwin, Mar.; 

 Mudhol, Kan.; Eda kula, Tel.; Palai, Tam.; Lettok, taungmeok, Burm. 



(Fig. 254.) 



A large evergreen tree with a tall stem, often fluted and buttressed, 

 whorled branches, and dark green shiny leaves in whorls of 4 to 10. Bark 

 grey, yellow inside, exuding milky juice when cut. Wood soft, white, used 

 for boxes, scabbards, writing-boards, &c. 



Scattered throughout the greater part of India and Burma where the 

 rainfall is over 50 in., preferring fairly moist situations ; not in the dry regions. 

 The tree is nowhere very abundant or gregarious. Fl. December to March ; 

 fr. May to July. The fruits consist of pairs of slender follicles 1-2 ft. long, 

 hanging in clusters, containing numerous densely ciliate seeds. 



The only measurement of the rate of growth available is one made in 

 Gorakhpur, United Provinces, showing an average height of 6 ft. 8 in, for 

 coppice three years old. 



3. WRIGHTIA, R, Br, 



Species 1. W. tomentosa, Roem. and Sch. ; 2. W. tinctoria, R. Br. 



1. Wrightia tomentosa, Roem. and Sch. Syn. W. rnollissima, Wall.; 

 W. Wcdlichii, A. DC. Vern. Dndhi, keor, darbela, Hind. ; Kala indarjau, Mar. ; 

 Telia pala, Tel, ; Pala, Tam. ; Lettokthein, Burm. 



A small deciduous tree with slender pubescent branches and opposite 

 distichous softly tomentose leaves. Bark grey, corky, exuding a yellowish 

 white latex when cut. Wood white, moderately hard, even-grained, used for 

 turning, carving, domestic utensils, &c. 



Distribution and habitat. Distributed throughout the greater part of 

 India and found in various parts of Burma, but not so common or so gregarious 

 as Holarrhena antidysenterica. In the sub-Himalayan tract it is rare west of 

 the Beas ; it ascends the outer valleys to 4,000 ft., and extends eastward to 

 Assam. It is common on the boulder deposits of the dry bJiabar formation 

 skirting the base of the outer hills. In Chota Nagpur and the Central Provinces 

 it is somewhat local and nowhere abundant, and throughout the Peninsula 

 generally it is distributed more or less locally. It occurs commonly in rather 

 open mixed deciduous forests, and also in sal forest. In Burma it is fairly 

 common in mixed deciduous forests of the upper and lower types. 



Within its habitat the absolute maximum shade temperature varies from 

 105 to 118 F,, the absolute minimum from 30 to 55 F., and the normal 

 rainfall from 35 to 150 in. 



