( 31 ) 



Seedl,in(/n epigeal, cotyledons persistent, epicotyledonary 

 system late in development ; cotyledons pale green, 40 mm. 

 long, 20-30 mm. broad, cordate, tapering apex, rounded 

 base ; hypocotyl erect, 90 mm. long, 2-3 mm. diameter, 

 glabrous, becomes black and four-cornered ; epicotyledonary 

 system does not appear until several weeks or months 

 after cotyledons fully developed ; epicotyledonary leaves are 

 alternate and measure 25 mm. long, 12 mm. wide, glabrous, 

 deep green, coarse bullate venation ; 2 traces to each 

 cotyledon, xylem split considerably; epicotyledonary traces 

 1 per leaf, not continued into root. 



Timber yellow with occasional black strands, inferior ; 

 similar to D. sylvatica ; wood parenchyma wide lumined, 

 tracheal elements rather low percentage number ; large 

 radial strands of parenchyma occur in the wood (cf. D. 

 qusesita); the coloured contents are not abundant ; timber 

 used for buildings. The wide lumined parenchyma and 

 the sparse contents of the secondary xylem elements prove 

 the timber to be of inferior quality. (See pi. II., fig 7.) 



Distribution limited to wet and intermediate zones of 

 Ceylon, up to 2,500 feet ; Colombo, Ratnapura, Kurunegala, 

 Hantane, Gangaruwa, Ambalawa, Karawita, Sinha Raja 

 forest, Pindeniya, Eratne, Gammaduwa. 



? Diospyros oocarpa, Thw. Enum. Ceyl. PL, p. 180, n. 9 



(1860). 



Kalu kadumberiya, Eta timbiri, S. ; Vellai karunkali, T. 



Thw. Enum. 180. C. P. 1,914. 



Fl. B. Ind. III., 560. Hiern, Mon. Eben. 171. 



A moderate-sized or large tree, evergreen, dioecious ; bark 

 thick, dark surface, yellowish when cut, young shoots 

 faintly pubescent ; flowers in April, fruits in September. 



Leaves alternate, 50-90 mm. long, 25-50 mm. wide, ovate 

 or oval, obtusely acuminate at apex, rounded at base, glabrous 

 and shining, thinly coriaceous ; venation widely reticulate 

 and faintly pellucid, but inconspicuous in old leaves; petiole 

 flat, 5 mm. long. (See pi. VII., fig. 7.) 



