294 XLVIII. SAPOTACE^. [Mimusops. 



Ghats, as far north as Kandalla (Graham, 106). Cultivated throughout India 

 and Burma, extending north-west as far as Delhi, Lahore, and Multan. Fl. 

 March-April. Attains 40-50 ft., with a short trunk, wood reddish-brown, close- 

 and even-grained, weight 61 lb. Value of P. 632 (Skinner). The tree is culti- 

 vated on account of its fragrant star-shaped flowers, which are used for garlands. 

 The fruit is eaten, and oil is expressed from the seeds. The bark is used medi- 

 cinally (Pharm. Ind. 131). 



Obdbe XLIX. EBENACE-ffi. 



Trees or shrubs, with entire, alternate, rarely ^ubopposite leaves on short 

 petioles, without stipules. Flowers axiUary, or from the old wood, regu- 

 lar, usually dioicous, the female flowers often solitary, the male flowers in 

 clusters or small cymes. Calyx free, 3-5-lobed, rarely with 6 or 7 lobes. 

 CoroUa hypogynous, lobes as many as those of the calyx, usually contorted 

 in the bud. Male flowers : stamens inserted on the torus, or on the 

 corolla-tube, generally near its base, number indefinite, or twice or four 

 times the number of calyx-lobes. Anthers erect, linear or lanceolate, 2- 

 ceUed, dehiscing at the sides longitudinally, connective usually prolonged 

 beyond the anthers. Female flowers with or without staminodes. Ovary 

 free, 3- or more celled, with 1 or 2 pendulous ovules in each cell. Styles 

 1-5, distinct or connate at the base. Fruit a berry, usually indehiscent. 

 Seeds few, albuminous, radicle superior, cotyledons foliaceous.-^Eoyle lU. 

 261 ; Wight 111. ii. 145 ; W. P. Hiern, A Monograph of Ebenacese in 

 Cambridge Philos. Soc. Trans, xii., 1873. 



1. DIOSPYBOS, Linn. 



Flowers dioicous. Calyx 3-7-lobed, usually 4-5-lobed, persistent and 

 generally enlarged in fruit. Ovary 4-1 6 -celled, generally with 1 ovule in 

 each cell. Fruit generally pulpy, with 1-10 seeds. Albumen cartilag- 

 inous, white and uniform, or more or less ruminated on the outside. 



-Leaves often opposite ; albumen ruminated . . . 1. D. Melamoxylm. 



Leaves always alternate ; albumen uniform ; stamens ] 6. ^ 



Pubescent or tomentose ; male flowers in short peduncu- 



late cymes 2. Z>. montana. 



Pubescent or tomentose ; male flowers in sessile compact 



fascicles Z. D. Chloroxylon. 



Nearly glabrous ; male flowers sessile, 2-3 together . 4. D. Zoius. 

 Leaves always alternate ; albumen uniform ; stamens 40 ; 

 leaves oblong, coriaceous shining, evergreen ; flowers 

 large 5. D. Embryopteris. 



1. D. Melanoxylon, Eoxb. Cor. PL t. 46 ; Fl. Ind. ii. 530. — Sans. 

 Kendu, tinduka. Vern. Tend, Tendu, taindu, Tcendu, temru, abnus, 

 (the heartwood). Local names : Tumrl marra, Gondi ; Timburni, Mar. 



A middle-sized tree, branchlets, young leaves, inflorescence clothed with 

 soft grey or tawny tomentum. Leaves mostly slibopposite, coriaceous, 3-6 

 in. long, but sometimes much longer, to 12 in. long, when fuU-grown 

 glabrous above, tomentose or pubescent beneath ; main lateral nerves 6-8 

 pair, often irregular and branching. Petioles \-\ in. long. Male flowers 



