508 
WRIGHT : FOLIAR PERIODICITY 
1900- 91. The tree commenced to shed its leaves in 
August and was almost leafless throughout November and 
December, 1900, and January, 1901. On the 3rd January only 
five new leaf buds appeared, and the tree remained with a 
single shoot in partial new leaf until the middle of March. 
Towards the end of April the tree was in full new leaf. 
1901- 02. On the 26th August, 1901, the discoloured leaves 
began to fall and continued to do so very gradually until 
by the 1st October the tree was bare. The tree remained 
leafless through the greater part of October and the whole 
of November ; on the 2nd December two small leaf buds 
appeared on one twig, and on the 21st December five leaf buds 
were present. New leaves were not produced rapidly until 
the 14th February, the appearance of new leaf being quite 
as slow as the fall of the old leaf. On the 4th March the 
tree was in half new leaf, but it was not until the 31st 
March, 1902, that the tree was in full new leaf. 
1902- 03. On the 10th August, 1902, the leaves began to 
fall ; the tree became leafless on the 25th October and 
remained in that condition until the 10th January, 1903. 
On the last date a few new leaves appeared on one twig 
only: on the 7th February new leaves appeared on a second 
twig, and full new foliage was regained by the 6th April. 
1903- 04. On the 30th August, 1903, the few yellow leaves 
commenced to fall, but the tree was not absolutely leafless 
until 28th November. On the 7th February, 1904, one twig 
put out a few new leaves and remained in this condition 
until the 9th March ; on the 14th April the tree was in 
three-quarter new leaf, and by the end of April new foliage 
had been regained. The variability in length of leafless 
period is not of much consequence to a tree characterized 
by such a slow rate of activity. 
From 1900 up to date I have not seen any flowers on 
this tree, though its age must be somewhat advanced. At 
Vavuniya, in March, 1902, I observed one tree shedding old 
leaves. 
