( 6 ) 



cotyledon flat, 2x2 mm. : hypocotyl green, cylindrical, 

 faintly pubescent, 60 mm. long, 2 mm. diameter. The 

 epicotyledonary system shows delayed development ; leaves 

 alternate, the first leaf occurs 3-8 mm. above the cotyle- 

 donary node, at right angles to the plane of the cotyledons, 

 30 mm. long x 9 mm. wide, green ; the subsequent leaves 

 arise in a spiral, and in size and form are similar to the first 

 (cf. D. Ebenum and D. Gardner! for development). 



Two traces per cotyledon ; one trace to each epicotyle- 

 donary leaf ; feeble splitting of cotyledonary xylem, 

 epicotyledonary traces die out in hypocotyl. 



Timber. When freshly cut the wood is of a dirty white 

 colour, but on exposure assumes a reddish tint. Black heart- 

 wood usually small, central, part generally rotten. Some 

 specimens show large heartwood not jet black, but often 

 streaked (cf. D. affinis and D. oocarpa), and when such 

 samples are sound the timber is equal to calamander in beauty. 

 One specimen 30 cm. diameter, possessed a large heartwood 

 consisting of a small black centre and a peripheral portion 

 beautifully variegated in tints of brown and black. Most 

 samples are inferior to ordinary ebony ; the timber possesses 

 a high per cent, number of parenchymatous and tracheal 

 elements. (See pi. V., fig. 19.) 



Uses. Only the timber is used. 



Distribution. Common in dry zones, especially along the 

 roadsides to Trincomalee and Mannar ; characteristic of 

 poor low-lying xerophytic forests. Jaffna, Matale, Trin- 

 comalee, Vavuniya, Puttalam, Mannar, Anuradhapura, 

 Habarana, Kanthalai, Madawachchi. Also in India, Malaya, 

 Burma, and Tropical Australia. 



. Diospyros Embryopteris, Pers., Syn. 11, p 624, n. 6 

 (1307). 



Timbiri, S. ; Panichchai, T. 



Thw. Enum. 178. C. P. 1,915. PI. B. Ind. Ill, 556. Wight, 

 Ic. t. $43, 844. Bedd. Fl. Sylv. t. 69. Bentl. and Trim. Med. 

 PI. t. 168. Hiern, Mon, Eben. 257. 



