TECTONA 711 



The first is the case of the Mohnyin forest in Katha, Upper Burma, 

 situated on flat ground and consisting in parts of almost pure teak of large 

 size but with no reproduction present. Some years ago experiments were 

 undertaken to induce natural reproduction, among other measures tried being 

 the clearing of undergrowth and the clean sweeping of the ground ; this 

 resulted in the appearance of dense masses of teak seedlings sprung from seed 

 which liad lain dormant in the ground, and which must have accumulated for 

 years before producing seedlings in such quantities. In a portion of the 

 Bilumyo forest near and of the same type as Mohnyin, all teak seed-bearers 

 were girdled in 1911, and in 1915 the forest growth was cleared and burnt ; 

 this was followed by the plentiful appearance of teak seedlings from seed 

 which must have lain dormant in the ground for at least four years. 



The second instance is one recorded by Mr. A. W. Lushington ^ in the 

 forests of the Nallamalais of Kurnool. Here from 1901 onwards clear -fellings 

 made in a type of forest devoid of teak trees resulted in plentiful natural 

 reproduction of teak : this is attributed to the fact that in the sixties of last 

 century or later teak was abundant in these forests, whereas in the eighties 

 or nineties a totally difl^erent type of forest arose by which the teak was 

 temporarily ousted, and when from 1901 onwards this forest was cut, teak 

 sprang up in abundance from seed which must have lain dormant in the ground 

 for many years. 



Germination (Fig. 270, b-g). Epigeous. The nut splits open on one or 

 two sides, or sometimes on three or even four sides, the side pieces separating 

 from the central axis of the nut like valves. Through the openings thus 

 caused the radicles first emerge and descend, the cotyledons soon making 

 their way upwards through the cracks, leaving the testas within the nut. As 

 the plant emerges the valves soon fall away from the central portion of the 

 nut. One nut usually produces one or two seedlings, but occasionally as many 

 as three or even four seedlings may be produced. 



The seedling (Fig. 270). 



Roots : primary root long, thick, terete, tapering, tomentose, whitish and 

 delicate at first, becoming light brown and woody later : lateral roots numerous, 

 moderately long, at fii'st delicate, wliite, pubescent, afterwards fibrous. Hypo- 

 cotyl .distinct from root, 0-5-1 in. long, compressed, white turning green, 

 tomentose and covered with minute dark red glandular dots. Cotyledons : 

 petiole 0-1-0-25 in. long, channelled above, light green, tomentose, covered 

 with minute dark red glandular dots : lamina 0-45-0-6 in. by 0-3-0-5 in., 

 foliaceous, fleshy, broadly elliptical ovate, entire, apex emarginate, base 

 cordate or truncate, convex and bright green above, concave and paler green 

 beneath, minutely tomentose and covered on both surfaces Avith minute dark 

 red glandular dots which turn black later, midrib depressed, basal lateral 

 veins two, somewhat obscure. Stem erect, at first terete or slightly compressed, 

 soon becoming quadrangular, green, tomentose, covered with glandular dots, 

 at first dark red, soon turning black. Leaves simple, opposite decussate, 

 exstipulate. Petiole 0-1-0-5 in. Lamina 1-12 in. or more by 0-4-10 in., 

 elliptical ovate or obovate, acute or obtuse, base tapering, serrate or crenate, 

 hispid above, coarsely pubescent beneath, both surfaces, pai-ticularly the 

 lower, covered with glandular dots at first dark red, soon becoming black ; 

 venation prominently reticulate, the veins depressed on upper, raised on 

 lower surface. 



1 Ind. Forester, xxxii (1907), p. 409. 



