MK HIERN, ON EBENACE^E. 233 



108. DIOSPYROS CHLOROXYLON, Roxb. Coromand. I. p. 38. t. 49 (1795). 



D. foliis alternis, ovalibus, basi scepius rotundatis apice mucronatis, tenuiter coriaceis, 

 subtus tomentosis, breviter petiolatis; Jloribus masculis aggregatis, subsessilibus, 4 "LO-nis, te- 

 trameris, calyce campanulato, dense pubescente, profunde 4-jido, corolld ^-fidd, staminibus 16, 

 biserialibus, glabris ; floribus femineis solitariis, sessilibus, staminodiis circiter 8, glabris, ovario 

 glabro, 8-loculari; fructibus globosis, glabris, edulibus, seminum albumine non ruminato. 



Wall. List n. 4118 (182832), Alph, DC. Prodr. vni. p. 230. n. 40 (1844). 



D tomentosa, Poir. Encycl. V. p. 436. n. 22 (1804), non Roxb. 



D. capitulata, R. Wight Ic. tt. 1224, 1588 bis (1850). 



Cfr. D. glauca, Rottler in Gesellschaft Naturforschender freunde zu Berlin, Neue Schrift. 

 IV. p. 221 (1803) ; Alph. DC. Prodr. vill. p. 238. n. 64 (1844). 



Nella-woolymera of the Telingas, Roxb. Corom. I. c. ; Neenye or Ninei in Surat, Dr Gibson. 



A tree of middle size with irregular trunk, or in low lauds only a large bush ; bark 

 scabrous, dark rust-coloured ; branches spreading, sometimes spinous ; young shoots pubes- 

 cent- tomentose, subfulvous. Leaves oval or oval-oblong, usually rounded at base and mucronate 

 at apex, thinly coriaceous ; pubescent or subglabrescent and dark green on upper side J 

 more or less tomentose and sub-tawny beneath, alternate, f 3 in. long by | l T 3 ff in. wide ; 

 petioles -J 2 J in. long ; midrib depressed above ; lateral veins not conspicuous. Inflorescence 

 tawny densely pubescent; flowers white. 



<J . Flowers clustered sessile or subsessile, 4 10 together, about J in. long, tetramerous ; 

 on peduncles -fa in. long, with very short pedicels ; bracts oval, small, glabrous inside. 

 Calyx about -j^in. high, campanulate, densely tawny-pubescent, deeply 4-fid, with apiculate 

 lobes, glabrous inside. Corolla 4-fid, glabrous except 4 lines of hairs outside. Stamens 16, 

 in 2 rows, inserted more or less in pairs, receptacle or at base of corolla, glabrous, the 

 inner ones shorter ; longer filaments as long as anthers ; anthers dehiscing laterally from 

 apex ; connective apiculate or prolonged. Receptacle glabrous ; ovary rudimentary glabrous. 



9 . Flowers solitary, sessile (or subsessile in Wight Ic. t. 1588 bis), about \ in. long, 

 tetramerous ; bracts longer than in <J , shorter than the calyx. Calyx | in. long, campan- 

 ulate, pale tawny, densely pubescent ; lobes rds depth of calyx, apiculate. Corolla erect, 

 glabrous, except 4 hairy lines down middle of lobes; lobes ^ f rds depth of corolla, ovate- 

 lanceolate. Starninodes 7 9, glabrous, in one row, hypogynous or inserted at base of corolla^ 

 Ovary glabrous, surmounted by 4 erect glabrous styles, 8-celled; cells 1-ovuled, often 

 approximated in pairs. Fruit globose, glabrous, in. or rather more in diameter, on nearly 

 flat calyx in. in diameter. When ripe it is eaten raw among the Orixa mountains and is 

 very palatable. Seeds 2 3 ; albumen not ruminated, testa thick slightly irregular inside. 

 The wood of the larger trees is yellowish, very hard and durable, and is used by the 

 natives for various economical purposes. 



Tranquebar, Vahl ; Madras!; Bombay; Surat and Nassick, Dr Gibson! ; Canara and 

 Mysore, Mr law! ; Kew List, n. 1712, 1719, 3617; Wallick!; East Bengal! 



VOL. XII. PART I. 30 



