( 67 ) 



lumined tracheal and parenchymatous elements there exist- 

 ing. The heart wood contains a fair percentage of fibres of 

 narrow lumen. Trees of this species are certainly worth a 

 little attention, judging from many excellent specimens 

 which I have seen at Ambalawa, near Gampola. 



Distribution. Endemic and rare, limited to moist region, 

 1,500-4,000 feet ; Deltota, Uduwella, below Haputale, Han- 

 tane, Gangaruwa, Kalugalla, Ambalawa. ^ u f^ h 7^* 



KEYS TO THE CEYLON SPECIES OF DIOSPYROS. 



General Characters. 



The following key is based on the general characters of 

 the leaves, fruits, and stems, and may be found useful as 

 a substitute for that given by Trimen. With the help of 

 this key and the illustrations of every species showing 

 flowers, fruits, seeds, timber, and leaves there ought to 

 be no difficulty in identifying species of Diospyros in the 

 forests of Ceylon. 



ENDOSPERM EQUABLE. 

 Leaves large, 110 to 300mm. long. 

 Fruit flattened or ovoid-globose, 



covered with glandular hairs ... iD. Embryopteris. 

 Fruit attenuate, feebly pubescent.. .tf D. acnta. 

 Leaves 50-200 mm. long. 

 Leaves opposite ... .../iw). oppositifolia. 



Leaves alternate. 



Leaves thin, not coriaceous, 

 feebly pellucid. 



Fruit depressed-globose, 



stem spiny ... JK nioiitana. 



Fruit strongly attenuate, 



stem smooth ...J. D. attenuate. 



Leaves coriaceous, strongly 

 pellucid venation. 



