Indian Forest Records . 
[Vcm. Yl 
3. Description of the Tree and Timber. 
Melanorrhcea usitata, on suitable soils, attains to a very considerable 
size. In most parts of Burma a tree 50 to 60 feet high, with a girth 
of 9 feet at breast-height, would be considered large. 
Mr. Blanford, Divisional Forest Officer, Katha (1911), says 
The usual size to which thitsi trees grow in this Division would 
appear to be about 7 feet breast-girth, but the Sub-Divisional Forest 
Officer, Tigyaing, considers that 10 feet would be the average figure 
in the better localities, and himself measured one tree of 14 feet 6 
inches. This must, however, be considered exceptional.” The bark 
is dark-grey, irregularly breaking up into small angular scales. 
The tree sheds its foliage about January, during which period it 
flowers, and the leaves reappear in the middle of March, but these dates 
are later in the hills. The parachute-like fruits become fully ripe and 
drop during the months March to June. Just before the leaves appear 
the tree is often covered with the fruits, each of which is supported by 
several long, bright red, spreading, enlarged petals. The mass of colour 
thus provided is very striking (see Frontispiece Plate I). The trees are 
usually straight, clear-boled up to a fair height and cylindrical, having 
a large spreading crown with simple, dark-green leaves. In January 
the tree, when in blossom, is a pretty sight ; the flowers are individually 
small, but the mass of panicle iiifl&rescences gives it a spangled, starry 
appearance: the flowers are white, and the mass has a very light yellow 
appearance. 
Owing to the fact that it has a large spreading crown, it makes a 
good shade tree for roads in dry gravelly places. 
The timber is dark red, very hard and durable, and has a handsome 
appearance; it is strong, and is used for buildings, bridges, ploughs, 
tool-handles, anchor-stocks and turning. 
4. Natural and Artificial Regeneration. 
Seed years are irregular, but good seed may usually be obtained 
every few years and, in a favourable season, numerous seedlings may be 
found at the beginning of the rains in the more open parts of Indaing 
forests. The growth of the young plants is not rapid, the height of 
seedlings in a nursery, in the rains of 1916, being not more than four 
inches, five months after sowing. 
Mr. Marsden recommends that the seeds should be collected as soon 
as possible after falling to the ground, then kept moist in heaps to 
encourage germination, and the germinated seed sown. The young 
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