ME HIERN, ON EBENACE^E. 261 



D. Enibryopteris, Boj. Hort. Maurit. p. 200 (1837), non Pers. 

 Embryoptems discolor, G. Don. Gen. Syst. Gard. and Bot. IV. p. 41 (1837). 

 Dwspyros Kaki, Blanco, Fl. Filip. edit. i. p. 302 (1837), non Linn. f. 

 D. Blancoi, Alph. DC. Prodr. VIII. p. 237. n. 74 (1844). 

 D. embriopteris, Blanco, Fl. Filip. edit. ii. p. 209 (1845). 

 D, melanida, Sieber !, Fl. Maurit. Suppl. n. 29 ; non Poir. 



A tree of moderate size, 40 feet or more 1 high; the trunk furnishes a hard compact 

 ebony of an exceedingly deep black colour. Young shoots and inflorescence fulvo-sericeous. 

 Leaves oblong, alternate, coriaceous, rounded at base, acuminate at apex, brown glabrous 

 and shining above, pale and appressedly pilose beneath, -with shining silvery hairs that 

 penetrate the skin and cause it to itch, ultimately glabrescent, 5 812 in ; long (including 

 petiole \ | in. long) by 2 3 4 in. wide, rigid ; lateral veins delicate, inconspicuous ; 

 midrib depressed above, stout beneath, wrinkled when dry as Well as the petioles and young 

 shoots. Sometimes small glands are found on the under side of the leaves. 



<J . Flowers about ^ in. long, subsessile on short contiguous 3-flowered Cymes, which 

 are arranged in terminal or axillary racemes, sweet-scented, tetramerous or occasionally 

 pentamerous. Bracteoles shortly deltoid, acute. Calyx turbinate-campauulate, coriaceous, 

 wider than the corolla-tube, f longj deeply lobed, lobes oval, rounded or mucronate ; silky out- 

 side, glabrous inside. Corolla silky outside, glabrous inside, coriaceous, funnel-shaped ; lobes 

 rather longer than the tube, spreading, oval. Stamens glabrous, 24 28, in pairs, nearly 

 equal, hypogynous or inserted at the base of the corolla-tube, erect, more or less united 

 at their base; filaments shorter than the linear laterally dehiscing anthers; ovary hairy, 

 rudimentary. 



<j>. Flowers solitary, axillary, bracteate at base, about f in. long, subterminal-spicate, 

 tetramerous or pentamerous, sessile. Calyx open, about in. high ; lobes nearly in. long 

 and wide, |-oval, coriaceous, cordate at base, appressedly silky outside, glabrous and 

 shining inside, imbricated in various ways. Corolla |in. long, shortly tubular, contracted 

 about middle, silky outside except near base, glabrous inside ; tube $ m - long, truncate-' 

 ovate, lobes about as long as the tube, spreading, J-oval, obtuse, margins incurved, im- 

 bricated sinistrorsely. Staminodes usually 4, occasionally 5 or even 10, much shorter than 

 the corolla ; filaments about as long as the barren (?) anthers ; all glabrous, alternate with 

 corolla-lobes ; ovary very densely pilose, large, 8- or more-celled, fleshy, 8 !-celled in specimen 

 of Dr Maingay, depresso-conical, cells 1-ovuled; styles 4, distinct, hairy outside or glabrous, 

 arched, converging at apex. Fruit thick, fleshy, globose or subglobose, densely hairy, reddish, 

 like a quince, 4 6-seeded, with flesh rose-coloured, 3 4 in. in diameter, pulp white; hairs 

 ferruginous ; albumen cartilaginous, not ruminated ; fruiting calyx flattish, appressed, rather 

 more than 1 in. in diameter. 



The wood is very hard, of a dark flesh colour, which in time becomes black like ebony. 

 The fruit has an agreeable smell like a quince (but sometimes not so), and is edible after 

 removing the hairs and skin. Local names Mabolo in Tagalog, Amaga in Bisaya, Talang 

 in PampangOj according to Blanco, I. c. 



Philippine Islands, Manila, Gaudichaud ! ; Blanco. Cultivated in Mauritius (Hb. Kunth I) 

 and in the Calcutta and Paris Gardens; also introduced at Malie" I. Seychelles, Home/ 345; 



