506 LXXXII. VERBENACE^E [Tectona 



erect, 1-3 ft. long. Fr. a hard bony nut, enclosed in a thick spongy covering, 

 consisting of a dense felt of branched hairs, seeds 1-3, rarely 4, a central 

 cavity having the appearance of a 5th cell. When the seed germinates, the 

 outer wall of each cell conies off bodily like a round concave cap. The inflated 

 calyx, which encloses the fr. like a bladder, is generally ovoid, 1-1| in. diam., 

 reticulate and more or less corrugated. 



The Teak tree is indigenous in both Peninsulas of India, in the north-eastern drier part 

 of Java and in other islands of the Indian Archipelago. In Western India it attains its 

 northern limit in the Western Aravallis at 24° 42' N. Lat. (-A. E. Lowrie). In Central 

 India its northernmost point is the Jhansi district at 25° 33' and from that xooint the line 

 of northern limit continues in a south-easterly direction to the Mahanadi river in the 

 Central Provinces. In Upper Burma it extends to lat. 25° 30', and ascends to 3,000 ft. 

 Teak, however, is not uniformly distributed over this large area, for there are many 

 districts where it is entirely absent. It is cultivated in Bengal and Assam, and in 

 Northern India as far as Dehra Dun. 



Teak grows on a great variety of soils, but requires perfect drainage. It thrives 

 equally w-ell on the sandstone of the Pegu Yoma, on the granite of the eastern Sitang 

 and the North Kanara Forests, on limestone in the Thaungyeen forests of Tenasserim, 

 and on basaltic rocks in the Khandeish Dangs, and the Satpura range. On alluvial 

 soil the stems generally are fluted and irregularly shaped. ■ 



It is not gregarious, though on deep alluvial soil small patches of nearly pure Teak 

 forest are occasionally found (Beeling, Domdamee in Martaban. Banks of the Godavari 

 [Gamble]). A large area of pure Teak is in the Katu forest (Katha district) of Upper 

 Burma. Woods in which Teak, mostly stunted, preponderates, also occur here and 

 there on dry rocky ground. Its associates are, besides Bamboos, the trees of the deciduous 

 forest. 



In dry and hot situations Teak loses its leaves in November, December or early in 

 January. Where the ground is moist, the tree often remains green until March. 

 The new foliage comes out in May. It flowers during the rains in July and August, 

 and ripens its seed between November and January. In summer it is readily recog- 

 nized at a considerable distance by 'the flower panicles, which overtop the green 

 foliage, and in winter the feathery erect fruit panicles distinguish it from all other 

 trees. 



On good soil and in a suitable climate Teak has an exceedingly rapid growth while 

 young. It coppices well. It demands much light and in this respect its requirements 

 are- similar to those of Quercus sessiliflora and Pinus sylvestris in Europe. Its strong 

 point is the vigorous terminal shoot, which enables it, like Fraxinus excelsior, to pierce 

 through dense brushwood, provided there is sufficient light overhead, to stimulate its 

 growth. The white mineral deposit found in cavities in the wood, as far as known, 

 mainly consists of Calcium Phosphates. 



2. T. Hamiltoniana, Wall. PL As. Rar. t. 294 ; Kurz P. Fl. ii. 259. 

 Vern. Dahat, Burm. 



A middle-sized tree, branchlets 6-8-angular. Leaves mostly in whorls of 

 3, sometimes opposite or in whorls of 4, ovate, blade 4-8, petiole § in. long. 

 Fl. greenish-white, corolla very hairy in the throat. Pr. tightly enclosed 

 in the flask shaped calyx. 



Dry country of the Irawadi valley, from Prome upwards. Fl. March-May, with 

 the young foliage. 



Holmskioldia sanguinea, Eetz. Subhimalayan tract, ascending to 4,000 ft., from the 

 Sutlej eastwards, ascending to 4,000 ft. Irawadi valley from Prome upwards. A 

 large straggling and scandent shrub, 1. ovate, entire or crenate, blade 2—4, petiole ^-1 

 in. long. Cymes red, scarlet in fr. Calyx widely obconic, limb j-1 in. across, almost 

 entire, corolla brick-red or orange, tube cylindric, curved, limb oblique, anther-cells 

 parallel. Drupe obovoid, 4-lobed, supported by the enlarged calyx. 



4. CLERODENDRON, Linn. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. iv. 589. 



Trees or shrubs, sometimes herbs. L. simple, opposite or whorled in 

 threes or fours. Fl. pentamerous, calyx persistent and enlarged in fruit, 

 often coloured. Corolla-tube slender, usually long, filiform, limb spreading, 

 oblique, lobes equal, anthers long exserted, cells parallel. Ovary imperfectly 

 4-celled, ovules 4, style filiform , shortly bifid. Drupe succulent or almost dry, 

 the endocarp or the entire fr. separating into four 1 -celled or two 2-celled 



