70 



WRIGHT: THE GENUS DIOSPYROS 



information in the future, and the dimensions quoted have 

 been determined personally in the districts mentioned: 

 Minimum Dimensions of Flowering Trees. 



Position of Flowers. The majority of the flowers, whether 

 solitary or in the form of an inflorescence, appear in the 

 axils of foliage leaves, and are therefore most usually found 

 near the ends of the ultimate twigs. Many species, however, 

 have their flowers disposed on old twigs or branches, 

 this being characteristic for D. Moonii, D. ovalifolia^ and D. 

 insigms in particular. 



When the flowers are monoecious the females usually appear 

 in the axil of the youngest leaves and the males in the axil 

 of lower leaves. In D. oppqsitifolia and D. acuta a female 

 flower usually terminates each young shoot ; other female 

 flowers occur in the axils of young leaves, but the males 

 occur either in the axil of old leaves, or on woody twigs 

 independent of foliage leaves. The females are thus subject 

 to more exposure, and being exposed to the wind on all sides 

 are more likely to attract insects and to catch wind-borne 

 pollen. 



