( 49 ) 



in width ; hypucotyl white, stout, glabrous, 60-65 min. long ; 

 epicotyledonary stein yellowish-green, pubescent, 3 mm. 

 long ; epicotyledonary leaves form an opposite pair and 

 prior to the dropping of the cotyledons attain a length of 15 

 mm. though within the confines of the seed ; hairy on under- 

 surface, particularly midrib and margin ; traces three per 

 cotyledon, median abortive, laterals splitting considerably ; 

 epicotyledonary one per leaf prolonged into root. 



The timber possesses no black heartwood, and whenfreshly 

 cut is dirty white in colour turning reddish on exposure ; 

 the colour is due to coloured contents mainly in the wood 

 parenchyma and medullary ray cells ; a change in colour of 

 the walls occurs. (See pi. I., fig. 3.) 



The percentage number of fibres varies from 74-83 per 

 cent, and that of the tracheal elements from 0*3 to 1'3 per 

 cent. 



The rings of growth are inconspicuous. 



In the Peak Wilderness I came across a variety of this 

 species characterized by a flattened circular fruit and stout 

 persistent style. It was abundant along the banks of streams 

 and in damp forests near Eratna, Madola, and Kadawatta. 



Distribution. endemic and limited to our wet zone up 

 to 1,500 feet, rather rare but often abundant along the banks 

 of streams and in rocky damp forests. 



Katugasella, Potgulkanda, Kukule korale, Galle, Ratna- 

 pura, Nawadun korale, Eratna, Kadawatta, Madola. 



/f Diospyros insignis, Thw. Enum. Ceyl. PL, p. 180., n. 10 

 (1860). 



Gona Poruwa-mara, Wal-mediriya, S. 

 Thw. Enum. 180. Hiern, Mon. Eben. 157. C. P. 2,730 



(3,477). 



Fl. B. Ind. III., 564. Bedd. Ic. Fl. Ind. Or. t. 130(1871). 



A moderate-sized tree, rarely exceeding 200 mm. 

 diameter, with a straight stem unbranched until near the 

 top, evergreen, dioecious and polygamous (monoecious ?) ; 

 hark white or grey, characterized by long shallow irregular 



8(10)04 (7) 



