262 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF [ Sapotee. 
Of the species of Diospyros, D. Kaki is stated by Dr. Roxburgh to be common to 
Nepal, China, and Japan. D. Ebenaster is a native of Ceylon; D.melanoxylon and 
chlororylon, of the mountains of the Peninsula. D.Embryopteris, found with them, 
extends from Silhet and Bengal near to the Deyra Doon along the foot of the mountains : 
and D. montana to the borders of the Ruenka Lake, near Nahn. D. cordifolia seems to 
_ be common in every part of India: and D. tomentosa, first described by Dr. Roxburgh, 
from the northern parts of Bengal, extends to the Kheree jungle, and the foot of the 
lower hills; the same species appears also to exist in the Central Range. D. Roylei, 
Wall. Cat. N. 4134, is a nearly-allied species, which I found growing in abundance 
near Adjeeghur and the Bisrumgunge ghaut; it is interesting as an indication of the 
nature of the little known Flora of Central India. 
The genus Diospyros is noted for the heart-wood of so many of its species becoming 
of a black colour, and affording the Ebony of commerce. Though that of the Mauritius 
yielded by D. Ebenus is reckoned the best, some of very good quality is obtained 
from the Indian species, as, according to Dr. Roxburgh, from the Ebenus of Rumphius, 
3.t. 1. from D. Ebenaster, and D. melanorylon, the Ebony-tree of Coromandel. It 
is also afforded by D. tomentosa and Roylei. The timber of other species though not 
black is of excellent quality. Some of the species are also noted for their sweetish, 
clammy, and subastringent, though edible, fruit, as Diospyros Lotus in the N. of Africa, 
and D.Kaki in China, so in India D.chloroxylon, melanorylon, racemosa, and tomentosa ; 
the fruit of the last is in Northern India called meetha tendoo. That of D. Embryopteris 
(g/utinosa, Roxb.) is particularly viscid, and well-known in Bengal, where it is called 
gab, for its uses in paying boats. The unripe fruit is very astringent. 
108. SAPOTEZ. 
This family, named from a fruit of the West-Indies, is chiefly found within the 
tropics of Asia and America, with species of Bumelia extending into the United States, 
and of Sideroxylon to the N. of Africa. A species of the former genus is also found at 
the Cape of Good Hope, and several genera and species in New Holland. In India 
are found the genera Chrysophyllum, Sideroxylon, Mimusops, and Bassia. The two last 
spread from the Tropical Islands into India on the north, and Mimusops into New 
Holland on the south. It is more than probable that a species of Bassia occurs in 
Africa. Species of Siderorylon are more widely diffused, as they occur in New Holland 
as well as in the N. of Africa and the West-Indies, where Chrysophyllum is found as well 
as in South America. 6 ‘ 
The Indian Sapotee spread from the Islands of the Indian Archipelago along the 
Malayan Peninsula to Silhet, and from that to Nepal, where Bassia butyracea is found, 
as well as in the neighbourhood of Almora. 3B. latifolia is probably indigenous in the 
Central Range, and is common in the northern, as B. longifolia is in the southern 
provinces of India. Mimusops Elengi and Kauki may be seen every where in a 
cultivated state: the former, Dr. Roxburgh only found once in a wild state on the 
mountains 
