14. Note on Stereulia alata Roxb, var. irregularis,—a 
remarkable instance of leaf variation. 
By W. W. Situ. 
n the Royal Botanic Garden, Sibpur, Calcutta, there is a 
Sterculia alata which has attained the normal size of the species 
in this area and which has been known for many years as 
e 
time, approximately 40 years ago, the majority of which form 
an adjoining avenue. e flowers and fruits are quite normal 
but, whereas the leaves of ‘des ordinary Sterculia a’zla are 
cordate, ovate, acute, with an entire or slightly undulating 
margin, the leaves in this abnormal form present a great 
variety of shapes and it is difficult to find any two alike. As 
but the remarkable feature here is the amount of variation in 
the leaves of the single tree. 
The leaves are palmi-nerved with normally 7 main veins 
(more rarely 5-6) radiating from the apex of the petiole. Of 
these the outer two are much weaker than the others. The 
chief lines of variation are :— 
(1) Deep lobin 
(2) Excessive elongation of one lobe, generally that of 
the central vein but not always s 
(3) Elongation of one lobe with shnteabinn at its base 
so as in some cases to leave only the midrib and 
thus cut off a leaflet 
(4) Development of only < one half of the leaf—on one 
side of the midrib only. 
(5) Variation in size. 
Several of these variations may occur in one and the same 
leaf. The accompanying illustration (plate 4) gives some idea 
of the degree of variation. The local name for this tree is the 
pagla g ee. 
Some years ago experiments were made with a view to 
finding out what percentage of the seeds of this tree produced 
plants like the parent. The seeds of the first three fruit-bear- 
ing years were sown, with the result that 3 to 5 per cent. of 
