DIOSPYROS 647 



and others. D. Embryopteris goes to the other extreme, thriving on moist and 

 even marshy ground. The fruits are few-seeded berries ; some of them are 

 edible, 'and are readily devoured by fruit-bats, monkeys, and other animals, 

 as well as by birds, particularly hornbills, and the seeds are scattered by their 

 agency. As a rule the seeds have a high percentage of fertility. The seedlings 

 develop long taproots at an early stage, often before any appreciable elonga- 

 tion of the shoot takes place. A curious creej^ing habit of the young taproot 

 has been noticed in the case of D. Melanoxylon, D. luoutmm, and D. Chloroxylon 

 (see under these species) ; possibly this may also be the case in other species. 

 The growth of the seedling is decidedly slow in all the species hitherto examined. 

 A characteristic of certain species, notably D. Melanoxylon and D. burmanica. 

 is the freedom with which root-suckers are produced ; it is doubtful if any 

 other Indian tree surpasses D. Melanoxylon in the profusion, hardiness, and 

 tenacity of its sucker reproduction. 



To this genus belongs the fruit-tree D. Kahi, Linn, f., the persimmon 

 (Japanese Kaki, Burmese Tayok-te), which is much cultivated in China and 

 Japan, and occurs wild in the Khasi hills and in Upper Burma. It has been 

 tried in India, and has succeeded fairly well at Dehra Dun, where the fruit 

 ripens towards the end of the rainy season. D. Lotus, Linn., vern. amlok, 

 Punj., a native of western Asia, extending in the Himalayan region eastward 

 to Kashmir and Hazara, is cultivated for its fruit in the Punjab and in the 

 Mediterranean region : it is frequently cultivated round villages in Hazara. 



Species 1. D. Melanoxylon, Roxb. (including D. tomentosa, Roxb.) ; 2. 

 D. Embryopteris, Pers. ; 3. D. Kurzii, Hiern. ; 4. D. burmanica, Kurz ; 5. D. 

 Ebenum, Koenig ; 6. D. Chloroxylon, Roxb. ; 7. D. morUana, Roxb. (in- 

 cluding D. cordifolia, Roxb.) ; 8. D. ehretioides, Wall. 



L Diospyros Melanoxylou, Roxb., includmg D. tomentosa, Roxb. Vern. 

 Tendu, Hind. ; Balai, Kan. ; Tumki, Tel. 



In his Forest Flora of North-West and Central India Brandis unites these 

 two, but in his Indian Trees he separates them, while expressing doubt as to 

 their being distinct species. Gamble, in his Manual of Indian Timbers, mentions 

 that it is very difficult to distinguish them either in the field or in the her- 

 barium. Haines, in bis List of Trees, Shrubs, c&c, of the Southern Circle, Central 

 Provinces, notes that both varieties occm* mixed up and appear to be often 

 indistinguishable, but that in the region dealt with D. tomentosa is perhaps 

 more eastern in its distribution : see also his Forest Flora of Chota Nagjyur. 

 The main botanical distinction consists in D. Melanoxylon having leaves 

 narrower than D. tomentosa, with base and apex often acute and secondary 

 nerves raised, while D. tomentosa usually has rounded or obtuse leaves and 

 secondary nerves impressed above. So far as the two have been studied 

 silviculturally, their characters appear to be identical, and unless further 

 study should reveal any radical differences they may be united from a silvi- 

 cultural point of view. 



A small to moderate-sized, occasionally large tree, with leaves opposite, 

 sub-opposite, or alternate, coriaceous, and varying much in size and form. 

 Bark greyish black, exfoliating in regular rectangular scales. Wood hard, 

 reddish brown, with an irregular black heartwood sometimes streaked with 

 purple or brown. The wood is used for building, shafts, shoulder-poles, and 

 other purjioses, and is carved into walking-sticks, picture-frames, and fancy 

 articles ; when burnt it emits showers of sparks, and is therefore not a safe 



