BAUHINIA RACEMOSA

Seedling characteristics of Bauhinia racemosa Lamk. are described. The seedling was of Phanerocotylar – Epigeal Reserve type. The total leaf area per seedling increased exponentially with age with relatively larger rate of leaf-area-increment by the 40th day of seedling age. The major allocation of biomass in 60-day old seedlings was in leaves - 49.65% of the seedling total dry mass (190.77 ± 34.47 mg). Tap root had profuse laterals. Cotyledons were obovate large, green fleshy and food laden. They were wholly consumed within around 50 days after emergence. From base to apex, first internode was the largest one and internodal size of subsequent internodes reduced to nearly half of the first internode. The hypocotyl was pale green, terete. Epicotyl hairy. The primary leaves were simple alternate, bilobed, pubescent ventrally. Each leaf had small, green and linear-lanceolate stipule. Leaf apex obcordate and leaf base cordate – embayed in sinus. Midrib extension (≤ 1mm) in the apical notch. Leaves and cotyledons showed photonastic movement. Epicotyl was longer than hypocotyl but hypocotyl was thicker (generally twice) than epicotyl. The total leaf area of 60-day old seedlings was (2256.57 ± 193.74 mm2). Cotyledons were 5-6(7)-nerved and leaves were 9-nerved. The cotyledonary and foliar venation was brachidodromous type. The cotyledons and leaves were amphistomatic. The number of subsidiary cells associated with different types of stomata varied from two to eight. Paracytic, anisocytic, anisotricytic, anomocytic and staurocytic types of stomata were found on leaves and cotyledons (sensu Prabhakar, 2004). Abnormal stomatal types included a staurocytic type with two abutting pores and other  included a group of contiguous anisotricytic type of stomata with variously shaped subsidiaries and the one anisotricytic stomata with two abutting pores. The epicotylar stomata were of paracytic type. Stomata were comparatively smaller on leaf (c 13 μm) than on the cotyledons (c 18 μm).  Seedling characteristics are compared with available data for other Bauhinia species.