178 ENUMEKATION OF \_Eb€naC€(B, 



feet. Var. /3. Near Galagama, Gardne7\ Var. y. Newera Ellia. Nom. 

 vulg. *'Kiriw-araIa-gass." 



^rior mediocris, i^o/za glabra (juiiiora plu3 minus pilosa), lanceolata, obovato- 

 lanceolata, obovata vel suborbicularia, plus minus abrupte brevequc acuminata, 1-5 

 poU. lon-a, 4 lin. 2i poll. lata, pethio 2-4 lin. longo. Pedicelii brevissimi vel 

 subnulli. Ovarium hixt\m^\mQ 4-loculare. Nuculania oblonga, 1-2-sperma, cocciiiea, 

 6 lin. longa. Semina castanea, uitida, aibumiuosa. 



I was at one time disposed to regard some of tlie forms of this most variable 

 plant as distinct, but further observation and the examination of a large number of 

 specimens, satisfy me that they all belong to one species. I have little doubt, too, 

 that Dr. Wight's Is, lanceolata is a form of the present plant, for I have examples 

 of it extremely like his figure. 



XCVI. EBENACE^. 



1. DIOSPYROS, Dal,, Linn. 



+ Flores pedunciclati, 



X Flok. masc. Corolla breviusciila, camjaamilata vel urceolata ; stamiuib us inter 



se suhicquilongis, 



^,7^',^"-^"'^''^°P*®"^' ^^^^' (^- I^C. Prod. viii. p. 235, cum syn.; 

 Wight, Icon. tt. 843, 844.)— cp. 1915, 



var. ^^. a^ra^a; /oZmmembranaceis, qemmis, pedunculis calijceque 

 niOTo-pilosis.— CP. 2781. 



Var. y. nervosa; foliis brevioribus, coriaceis, utrinque valdc promi- 

 nentim venosis, basi rotundatis ; gemmis, pedunculis cahceqyx^ nigro- 

 pilosis; loOis eal^cis fructiferi erectk.—cv, 11)10- 

 ir'^'^'o y^* "• ^^^^ abundant in the hotter parts of the island. 

 Var. iS. Less common, but generally distributed. Var. y. In damp 

 lorests towards the south of the island. JN'om. vulg. " Timberee-gasa/* 



Though disposed at one time to regard the three well-marked varieties of this 

 plant as distmct species, I now find it impossible, after a most careful examination, 

 to discover any distmctive characters of sufficient importance to justify my separating 

 them otherwise than as varieties. The black colour of the pubescence upon the 

 gemmai and mtloresceuce of varr. and % gives them a different aspect from that 

 ot var. a, but black hairs are frequently lutermixed with the pale pubescence of the 

 latter, especially upon the gemmae. In all the specimens I have examined, the ovary 

 has been S- celled. 



The timber of this tree is used for buildings : the juice of the unripe fruit Is cm- 

 ployed for paying the seams of fishing-boats, and for putting upon their cordage and 



2. D. cordifoUa, Eoxb. (PL Cor. i. p. 38. t. 50; A. DC. I.e. p. 230, 

 cum syn.)— Z). montana, Wight, Ic. t. 1225 (nou Roxb.).— c.P. 1909. 



Hab. Jaffna, Gardner. 



I have not seen the female flowers of this species, so am unable to ascertain 

 whether they have four sterile stamens, as shown in Dr. Wight's figure, or a greater 

 number, as represented in Roxburgh's; but it is probable, judging from other 

 species, that the number of these organs is not very constant. The albumen of the 

 seeds is not ruminate. 



3. D. sylvatica, Eoxb. (Eoxb. PL Cor. i. p. 38. t. 47 ; A. DC. 1. c. p. 



Ml, cuin syn.)— c.F. 2729. 



Hab. Damp forests in the Iluntani District and near Eatnapoora, up 



