692 XLIV. BIGNONIACEAE 



green, minutely pubescent. Cotyledons : petiole 0-2-0-25 in. long, channelled 

 above, minutely pubescent : lamina 0-6-0-8 in. by 1-2-1 -5 in., foliaceous, 

 much broader than long, deeply bifid, lobes reniform and sometimes partly 

 overlapping each other, entire, minutely pubescent above, glabrous beneath ; 

 each lobe with three principal veins from the base, subsidiary veins reticulate. 

 Stem erect, slightly compressed ; glabrous or young parts minutely pu bescent ; 

 internodes up to 1 in. long in younger stages. Leaves opposite, exstipulate, 

 first few pairs simple, followed by one or more pairs of 3-foliate leaves, and 

 then by 5-foliate leaves, which are usually produced in the second season. 

 Simple leaves with petiole 0-5-2 in. long, glabrous, channelled above : lamina 

 2-4 in. by 1-3-2 in., ovate acuminate, entire or dentate, base often decurrent, 

 glabrous, or veins on lower surface minutely pubescent ; venation arcuate 

 reticulate, veins depressed on upper surface and prominent beneath. 



The growth of the seedling is slow to moderate, maximum heights of 

 about 6 in., 1 ft., and 2| ft. being attained by the end of the first three seasons 

 if no weeding or watering is done, and nearly double these dimensions being 

 attained if the plants are weeded and watered. Young seedlings are sensitive 

 to frost and to drought, many dying off in the hot season in dry situations 

 exposed to the sun ; they benefit by moderate shade and moisture. The 

 leaves of seedlings turn reddish brown in the cold season, falling in December- 

 January, after which the seedlings are leafless until March, when new growth 

 commences (northern India). 



SiLVicuLTURAL CHARACTERS. The tree stands moderate but not heavy 

 shade. Its root-system is superficial, and it produces root-suckers in great 

 profusion, these often forming a dense growth round the parent stem. 



Natural reproduction. Under natural conditions the seed germinates 

 early in the rainy season. For successful reproduction a certain amount of 

 shade and moisture appears to be necessary in the early stages, owing to the 

 tendency of the seedlings to die of drought in hot exposed situations. Other- 

 wise seedlings have good power of making their way through a moderate 

 growth of grass and weeds. 



Artificial reproduction. Nursery-raised seedlings can be transplanted 

 without difficulty during the first and second rainy seasons. The seed should 

 be sown in the nursery in March or April, and lightly covered with earth, the 

 beds being regularly watered, slightly shaded, and protected from frost in 

 winter. The tree may also be propagated by transplanting root-suckers. 



Rate of growth. Gamble's specimens gave 2| to 4 rings per inch of 

 radius, or a mean annual girth increment of 1-57 to 2-52 in., which is fast. 



3. MILLINGTONIA, Linn. f. 



>Iillinstonia hortensis, Linn, f . Syn. Bignonia suberosa, ,Roxb. Indian 

 cork-tree. Vern. Akds nim, Hind. ; Kat malli, Tam. ; Kavuki, Tel. ; Egayit, 

 Burm. 



A tall, handsome tree, with an elongated crown and large bipinnate, 

 sometimes tripinnate leaves. Bark dark yellowish grey, corky. Wood soft, 

 yellowish white, of very fair quality, suitable for tea-boxes and similar pur- 

 poses. The tree is l)olieved to be indigenous in Burma, and is largely cultivated 

 for ornament throughout India. It is fast-growing, tall, and straight, and. as 

 Gamble riglitly suggests, it is well worth considering as a useful soft-wood for 



