12 WRIGHT: THE GENUS DIOSPYROS 



or intermediate zont> plants. In the dry zone, where the 

 rainfall ranges from 35 to 70 inches, we have seven species, 

 viz., D. Ebenum, P. Embrvppteris, D^Melanoxylon, D. 

 oocarpa, D. m on tana, D. affinis, and D. ovalifolia. The 

 majority of these species, particularly D. Ebenum, D. ovali- 

 folia and D. Embrjjqpteris, are to be found in abundance in 

 local areas of the dry zone. D. oocarpa is less common, 

 though at Mihintale, Dambulla, Haragama, Maturata, and 

 Kalugala it is abundant in many of the forests. Of the dry 

 zone species D. Melanqxylon has the most limited distribu- 

 tion. It was first found by Dr. Trimen* between Bibile and 

 Ekiriyankumbura in 1888, and the fact that its existence was 

 not determined by Dr. Thwaites is sufficient to show its 

 rarity. In 1901 its presence was again noted in this locality, 

 and in addition a large number of plants were found on 

 the patana and in the coarse forests at Elukapudena and 

 Diggalrana to the south-west of Bibile. Many large trees 

 were also found along the roadside from Bibile to Bintenna, 

 and in the forest along the side and at the base of Bibile hill. 



The remaining thirteen species occur in the wet zones, 

 where the rainfall is never less than 80 inches, and in places 

 often reaches over 300 inches per annum, and at elevations 

 from sea level to 4,000 feet. The most generally distributed 

 species are D. insignis and D. Toposia. In the districts around 

 Ratnapura, Sinha Raja forest, Pasdun korale, and Hiniduma, 

 the species D. hirsute, D. Moonii, and Thwaitesii are specially 

 abundant. In the higher parts of the wet zones, as at 

 Ambalawa, Hantane, Kadugannawa, and Gangaruwa, abun- 

 dance of I), crumenata, D. Gardner!, and D. sjlvatica is met 

 with. The remaining species are rare, and occur in the low- 

 lying wet forests of the Southern and Western Provinces. 



The rarest of the wet zone species is undoubtedly D. 

 oppositifplia. Specimens of this species were collected at 

 Hiniduma in 1853 by Dr. Thwaites, and this was the 

 only material which Dr. Trimen ever saw. This species is 



* Flora of Ceylon, Vol. III., p. 99. 



