( 21 ) 



a few hours after fruits collected ; f rui ting calyx only 

 slightly enlarged, segments inclined or nearly horizonal, 

 thin, no cup formed, 11 mm. length, 4 mm. wide at base. 

 (See pi. XIIL, fig. 11.) 



Seeds 1-4 per fruit, elliptical -wedge to globose-ovoid in 

 shape ; testa reddish-brown, smooth, 16 mm. long, 10 mm 

 wide, 10 mm. thick ; endosperm equable and under great 

 pressure in young fruits ; embryo white, 6- .10 mm. long. 

 (See pi. XIII., fig. 12.) 



Seedlings epigeal, cotyledons detached early, epicotyledon- 

 ary leaves enhanced developmentally, testa does not split 

 (cf. D. ovalifolia) ; cotyledons white, glabrous, square base, 

 rounded apex, prior to detachment measure 11 mm. long, 

 8 mm wide ; 'hypocotyl reddish and densely covered with 

 long white hairs (very characteristic), 70-80 mm. long, 

 5 mm. diameter ; epicotyledonary stem red, 10 mm. long, 

 first two epicotyledonary leaves form opposite pair ; traces 

 3 per cotyledon, xylem of median trace equal or stronger 

 than either lateral, diffused in lower part of hypocotyl ; 

 epicotyledonary traces 1 per leaf, weak, continued into 

 root, but not into apical parts. (See pi. XVIII., figs. 1-5.) 



Timber never black, but white tinged with yellow 

 when freshly cut, on exposure turns red ; heavy, compact ; 

 elements partially filled with reddish-brown deposit, low per 

 cent, number of tracheal elements, and 78*30 to 80*99 per 

 cent, fibres. The small size of trees of this species renders 

 the extraction of the coloured wood, when present, un- 

 profitable. (See pi. I., fig. 1.) The hairs on the twigs and 

 fruits are said to possess stinging properties. F. Lewis, Esq., 

 suggested the appropriate native name for this species. 



Distribution limited to our wet zone, Southern Province 

 and South-Western Province, up to 2,000 feet. This is 

 one of our very rare species. Thwaites collected the 

 vegetative organs only. Trirnen did not see either flowers 

 or fruits of this species. In the forests of Gilimale, Sinha 

 Raja, Marakelle, Idikada-Mukalana, and Koskandahena the 

 plant occurs as a sparsely foliated bushy tree, 900-1 ,i>00mru. 



