EBENACE^:. [Diospyros. 



9. D. Lotus, Linn. ; Brandis 297. Vern. Amluk, maluk, Pb. 



A middle-sized tree with dark-brown or black tesselated bark. 

 Wood grey, moderately hard, close-grained. Pores small, in radial 

 groups. Medullary rays very fine, closely packed. No concentric lines. 



Punjab Himalaya, in Hazara and Kashmir, from 2,500 to 6,000 feet; Afghanistan, 

 Beluchistan, extending to Southern Europe (Mathieu, PI. For. p. 205). 



Growth slow, 10 rings per inch of radius (Brandis}. The fruit is sweetish and is 

 eaten fresh or dried, by the Afghans ; Mathieu says that in Southern Prance it is 

 eaten when half-rotten like the Medlar. 



H 3183. Dungagalli, Hazara, 5,000 feet. 



10. D. Embryopteris, Pers. ; Beddome t. 69 ; Brandis 298 ; Kurz ii. 

 128. D. glutinosa, lioxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 533. Embryopteris glutinifera, 

 Roxb. Vern. Gab, makur-kendi, Beng. ; Hind.; Kusi, Banda; Kendu, 

 Ass.; Gusvakendhu, Uriya ; Tiimbika, pani-ckika, Tarn.; Tumil, tumika, 

 Tel. ; liolle-tupra, Coorg ; Kusharta, Kan. ; Timberee, Cingh. 



An evergreen shrub or small tree, with dark -green foliage and long 

 shining leaves. Bark smooth, dark grey, almost black, with a greenish 

 tinge. Wood white, moderately hard, close-grained. Pores small, scanty, 

 in short radial lines. Medullary rays very fine, very numerous, uniform 

 and equidistant. 



Throughout India and Burma, except the arid and dry zones in the Punjab and 

 Sindh. 



Growth moderate, 7-8 rings per inch of radius (Brandis}. Weight, our specimen 

 gives 53 Ibs. per cubic foot. Wood used in building, in Ceylon for masts and 

 yards. 



The fruit is large, reddish ; it contains a viscid pulp, which is used as gum in 

 bookbinding, and in place of tar for paying the seams of fishing-boats. Its use for 

 " gabing " boats is general throughout the rivers of Lower Bengal and Assam. An 

 infusion is used to render fishing-nets durable. It is full of tannin and is used in 

 medicine as an astringent. The oil extracted from the seeds is used in native medicine. 



Ibs. 

 O 3161. Dehra Dun 52 



11. D. pyrrhocarpa, Miq. ; Kuvz ii. 136. Vern. Tat/, Buvm. 



An evergreen tree. Wood reddish brown, moderately hard to hard. 

 Pores small, in short radial lines. Medullary rays very fine, closely 

 packed, with fine transverse lines across them. 



Andaman Islands. 



Weight, 52 Ibs. per cubic foot. Major Ford says the fruit is eaten by the Burnn-Mj 

 and is used as a red dye for linen ; that Chinese umbrellas are dyed with the juice, 

 which also has the property of rendering them waterproof. 



Ibs. 



B 1991. Andaman Islands (Kurz, 1866) 50 



B 2244. (1866) 54 



12. D. sp. from the Andamans (B 2232, Gl Ibs.) Vero. Moony, 

 Burm., has very small scanty pores, often in short radial lines behuvn 

 the closely-packed, very fine, uniform, medullary rays. No concentric 

 lines; white streaks parallel to the medullary rays. 



Major Ford says that " the wood is hard, compact and close-drained, dark-purplish 

 grey \vilh n:irro\v streaks of jet Mack rhony. The hark and fruit of this tree produce 

 a beautiful black dye. Tin- Burmese us.- the wood for llutes and other wind instru- 

 ments, for earrings, carved inia i< luiv frames, &o. The hlack heart- 



