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A NEW METHOD OF VEGETATIVE MULTI¬ 
PLICATION IN CROTALARIA BURHIA , HAM. 
By R. H. DASTUR, M.Sc. and W. T. SAXTON, M.A. 
(With Plate II and i figure in the text) 
Introduction 
W hile investigating some ecological problems on an area close 
to Ahmedabad, the writers made a preliminary investigation 
of the root structure of typical plants of the formation studied. That 
of Crotalaria burhia presented some peculiarities of sufficient interest 
to warrant a separate account. This species is perennial, while the 
other local species of Crotalaria are annuals. 
External Examination 
The root in the youngest plant 1 we have observed is a straight 
tap root about 4 ft. long, and in a plant of some years old, the tap root 
is estimated to be about 16 ft. in length. The actual length dug out 
on one occasion was 12 ft. but the entire root was not taken out. 
There are many lateral roots from deeper portions of the main root 
in younger plants but the development of dormant lateral roots takes 
place in the upper part also as the plant gets older. In a plant about 
a year old, the axis is seen to be ribbed, the ribs appearing first in the 
transition region from root to stem and extending downwards into 
the root where they gradually disappear. In old plants the ribs are 
thick and conspicuous (Plate II, fig. 1). They also anastomose with 
one another as they pass downwards. 
A well grown plant reaches two to three feet in height and bears 
linear leaves \ in. by T 3 g in. In a young plant there is only one un¬ 
branched shoot. Branches appear in succession all over the upper 
part of the main shoot. On the lower part close to the base of the 
main shoot other branches grow from buds, and as the plant gets 
older they all grow almost to the size of the main shoot and may 
give rise to secondary branches. The ribs already described end just 
above the base of the main shoot, extending also into the base of the 
1 Probably less than one year old. 
