14 WRIGHT: THE GENUS DIOSPYROS 



truly wet zones. These two species, though attaining their 

 maximum distribution in the dry areas around Anuradha- 

 pura, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, &c., may also be found in the 

 low-lying forests of Sabaragamuwa and the Central Province, 

 sometimes being very plentiful along the banks of streams. 

 In the moist regions D. Ebenum may extend up to 4,000 

 feet, many occurring at Hantane, Ambalawa, Gangaruwa, 

 Hinidunkanda, Borulugoda, Eratna, and Hewessa. The 

 dimensions of trees of these two species when in the wet 

 zone are usually but not always less than those from a dry 

 zone. Specimens of D. montana, D. oocarpa, D. ovalifolia. 

 or EX affinis have not yet been recorded from any wet zone 

 area, though IX oocarpa is known in the intermediate zone. 



///. VEGETA TIVE CHAR A CTERS.jtfi, /k^i 



Dimensions, Habit, &c. As far as the Ceylon represen- 

 tatives of the genus Diospyros are concerned, every species 

 assumes an arborescent habit. 



It is characteristic of the dry zone species to attain huge 

 dimensions. D. Ebenum, being the main source of ebony 

 in the Island, is usually felled after attaining a breast-height 

 circumference of 6 feet, but further increments are possible, 

 and many trees are known with a circumference of 9 to 

 10 feet. Specimens of D. affinis in the Viriniya and Bibile 

 districts and of D. Embryopteris at Anuradhapura often 

 attain, a circumference of 9 feet and possess an unbranched 

 bole over 50 feet in length. The total height of the dry zone 

 species is often over 100 feet, and the huge dimensions are 

 only departed from when the plant occurs in the wet zone 



There is, however, one district in the wet zone where trees 

 of D. Ebenum and D. Embryopteris attain dimensions which 

 outrival those known in the dry zones. I refer to the 

 Ambalawa district on the boundary between the Central and 

 Sabaragamuwa Provinces, where the rainfall is over 100 

 inches a year and the elevation varies from 2,000 to 3,500 



