MACROSCOPIC STRUCTURE. 35 



fine but distinct as dark green lines and points. The fibres 

 change in direction from left to right and from right to left 

 every year. 



Sapwood narrow, pale, and of a dull yellow ; the heartwood 

 olive-coloured and scented like gum. 



24. Ebony-wood (Diospyros). 



(Numerous species from warmer and tropical countries.) 

 The medullary rays are invisible, the vessels in the deci- 

 duous species are larger than in those that are evergreen ; the 

 former have also more distinct annual zones. The sap wood of 

 true ebony is pale and of much lighter weight (about 5 : S) 

 than the heart wood ; the heartwood of some deciduous species 

 is light-grey with intervening darker tints. That of some 

 evergreen species is either dark brown or black, or with bands 

 of grey and black wood, as in calamander-wood (/>. (iin'xit<i).-- 

 In black ebony (/>. Eln'num), the vessels appear in longitudinal 

 sections as lustrous fine dark lines, contrasting with the dull 

 ground-tissue. 



25. Jacaranda,} j'<i1xt>. rose/mod (Machaerium). 

 (Brazil.) 



Very large isolated pale v< venly distributed; their 



luniina are filled with a lustrous parenchyma resembling 

 varnish. Colour violet to brown. AVood sweet-scented. 



Thespesia, Calophyllurn, etc.). 



(Several species from various tropical countries.) 



Vessels fine, but distinct. The wood is brilliantly " flamed " 

 with red or cherry-coloured streaks, hence its name ; the rosy 

 colour absent in decayed spots. Medullary rays scarcely 

 visible. [Palisandre is the French name for rosewood. Tr.] 



Indian Timbers." subdivides ebony-woods as follows : 

 1. Heartwood wholly black, or slightly streaked, as in D. /-,'/;/"// /////. 

 '2. streaked black and brown, or grey (D. yitacxifft). 



3. very small, black streaks in In-own or grey wood (D. 



Efmbryopterig). 



4. .. none. Wood of various tints (I). Lain*). J-iuropean. 

 j [Jacaranda is the Brazilian name for Madiaer'nun. The genus .Ji 



is a liiirnoniad of no value as wood. Tr.] 



D 2 



