GERMINATION AND SEEDLING STAGES
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Epigeous
The testa hard external covering of the seed is a brown, papery covering inside the cartilaginous put
amen of the drupe. The radical emerges from the end of the seed and the hypocotyle arches,
withdrawing the cotyledons from the two covering and in straightening, raising them ground; the two
covering are either left in the ground or carried up over the cotyledons, from which they eventually drop
to the ground.
The testa hard external covering of the seed is a brown, papery covering inside the cartilaginous put
amen of the drupe. The radical emerges from the end of the seed and the hypocotyle arches,
withdrawing the cotyledons from the two covering and in straightening, raising them ground; the two
covering are either left in the ground or carried up over the cotyledons, from which they eventually drop
to the ground.
The Seeding
Primary root moderately long terete, tapering; lateral roots moderate in number and length, fibrous,
distributed down the main root. Hypocotyle distinct from root, 2-4 cm long, terete, cylindrical or tapering
slightly upwards, white soon turning green glabrous. Cotyledons sub-sessile of with petiole up to 1.3
mm long; lamina 1-2 cm x 6-8 cm, thick, fleshy, elliptical, apex rounded, base sagittate, outer surface
convex, inner flattened in contact, entire, green, glabrous hairless surface. Stem erect, terete or slightly
compressed, glabrous; internodes 0.5-3.3 cm long, the first (above the cotyledons) usually longer
than those succeeding. Leaves first pair usually opposite, subsequent leaves opposite toe alternate,
first few trifoliate, later leaves 5- foliate. Stipules leaflet somewhat larger than lateral ones; leaflets
sessile or subsessile, 2.0-3.3 cm x 0.8-1.5 cm, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, unequally serrate, often
more or less 3-lobbed.
Primary root moderately long terete, tapering; lateral roots moderate in number and length, fibrous,
distributed down the main root. Hypocotyle distinct from root, 2-4 cm long, terete, cylindrical or tapering
slightly upwards, white soon turning green glabrous. Cotyledons sub-sessile of with petiole up to 1.3
mm long; lamina 1-2 cm x 6-8 cm, thick, fleshy, elliptical, apex rounded, base sagittate, outer surface
convex, inner flattened in contact, entire, green, glabrous hairless surface. Stem erect, terete or slightly
compressed, glabrous; internodes 0.5-3.3 cm long, the first (above the cotyledons) usually longer
than those succeeding. Leaves first pair usually opposite, subsequent leaves opposite toe alternate,
first few trifoliate, later leaves 5- foliate. Stipules leaflet somewhat larger than lateral ones; leaflets
sessile or subsessile, 2.0-3.3 cm x 0.8-1.5 cm, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, unequally serrate, often
more or less 3-lobbed.
During the first season, the seedlings show moderate development, ordinary reaching a height of
10-20 cm by the end of the year. Experiments carried out at Dehra Dun have shown that development
is much retarded by weed growth and that regular weeding greatly stimulates the growth and vigour of
the seedlings. In these experiments, it was found that, if weeded and moderately irrigated, seedlings
reached a height of 150-210 cm by the end of the third season; if weeded and not irrigated, they
reached a height of 50-100 cm by the end of the second season. Where weeding was not carried out,
the seedlings showed very poor development and were eventually killed by suppression and frost. In
northern India, the growth of the seedlings ceases around October-November and the new shoots
appear around March. The seedlings are very frost tender and, when killed down to ground level, have
little power of recovery. They are intolerant to excess moisture in the soil, the taproot tending to rot.
10-20 cm by the end of the year. Experiments carried out at Dehra Dun have shown that development
is much retarded by weed growth and that regular weeding greatly stimulates the growth and vigour of
the seedlings. In these experiments, it was found that, if weeded and moderately irrigated, seedlings
reached a height of 150-210 cm by the end of the third season; if weeded and not irrigated, they
reached a height of 50-100 cm by the end of the second season. Where weeding was not carried out,
the seedlings showed very poor development and were eventually killed by suppression and frost. In
northern India, the growth of the seedlings ceases around October-November and the new shoots
appear around March. The seedlings are very frost tender and, when killed down to ground level, have
little power of recovery. They are intolerant to excess moisture in the soil, the taproot tending to rot.