( 10 ) 



centre of very old trees ; black strands occur irregularly in 

 parts of the sapwood usually in association with wounds. 

 This species attains a very large size in the wet and dry 

 zones. The coloured contents of the elements are rarely 

 abundant and the tree is therefore seldom felled with a view 

 to obtaining ebony therefrom. Seasonal rings of growth 

 are poor and irregular, but visible to the naked eye (see 

 pi. V., fig. 20). Some specimens possess 85'1 per cent, of 

 fibres ; nevertheless.the timber is very inferior to ebony, and 

 is even less durable than red woods of other species. 



Varieties. Var. atrata, Thw. l.c. C. P. 2,731. 



Leaves thinly coriaceous ; buds, peduncles, and calyx 

 densely covered with brown hairs. 



Var. nervosa, Thw. l.c. C. P. 1,910. 



Leaves very coriaceous, veins prominent on both sides, 

 rounded at base ; buds, peduncles, and calyx covered with 

 black hairs ; calyx segments enlarged, erect, and about as 

 long as fruit. 



Uses. The fruit possesses a large quantity of gum and 

 tannin, and the juice is used as a tan for fishing nets and for 

 the planks of boats. The fruit and the bark both possess 

 astringent properties and are used medicinally. The leaves 

 are sometimes eaten as a vegetable. The timber is occasion- 

 ally used for masts and yards for small boats. 



Distribution. Common in dry countries, especially along 

 banks of streams, tanks, &c., invariably associated with 

 Terminalia glabra in these localities ; also occurs in the 

 moist regions, particularly along streams, and associated with 

 D. Moonii, Thw. Galle, Rayigam korale, Ratnapura, Amba- 

 lawa, Bibile, Viriniya, Bintenna, Hinidum, Vavuniya, Jaffna, 

 Madawachchi,Hantane,Gangaruwa, Kadugannawa. Also in 

 India and Malaya. 



. Diospyros Toposia, Harnilt. in Trans. Linn. Hoc., Vol. 

 XV., p. 115 (1827). 



Kahakala, Kaluwella, S. ; Vellei Thoverii, T. 



