PERSIMMON-WOOD 



irregulary distributed, tree-like on account of the radial 

 groups being close together separated only by rays but at suc- 

 cessively higher levels, thus appearing as long groups : the true 

 groups are radial from 2-17 pores compactly arranged : pores 

 rather numerous, 20-35 P er s 1- mm - : contrast little with the 

 ground except when filled with white contents. 



Rays. Need lens, size 5 or rather less, uniform : rather less 

 than a large pore-width apart : weak otherwise straight : much 

 denser than the ground : very numerous, 10-15 per mm. Rings 

 doubtful unless indicated by the concentric lines of soft-tissue 

 which however seem too much interrupted and irregular. 



Soft-tissue. Abundant in concentric lines which are undulat- 

 ing, irregular and interrupted : brown : size 4-5 (ray-scale) 

 and 4-5 per mm. : often mere angles or scraps : also encircling 

 the pores and of a lighter colour than the lines. 



Pith.? 



Radial Section. Quite uniform in colour : pores very small 

 but readily visible as hoary (not black) scratches with red con- 

 tents : the rays are minute, obscure, shining flakes of the colour 

 of the ground : the rings are not indicated. 



Tangential Section. As the Radial, but the pores are apparently 

 sinuous : the rays are minute, brown lines of one row of cells, 

 visible with micro., after moistening (in the solid). 



Type specimens authenticated by the Forest Officer to the 

 Government of British Guiana. Boulger mentions Bulletwoods 

 under the names of Lucuma mammosum and Sapota Muelleri. 

 Neither appears to refer to this species. 



No. 130. PERSIMMON- WOOD. Diospyros vir- 

 giniana. Linn. 



Plate X. Fig. 84. 



Natural Order. Ebenaceae. 



Alternative Names. Persimmons : Date-plum : Plaqueminier 

 de Virginie (49). 



Sources of Supply. North America : Japan. 



Physical Characters, etc. Recorded dry-weight 45-53 lbs. per 

 cu. ft. Hardness Grade 3, very hard, compare Blackthorn. Smell 

 and taste none : burns well with a lively flame : embers glow in 

 still air. Solution with water or alcohol colourless. 



Grain. Open, of medium coarseness : dense. Surface scarcely 

 bright. 



Bark. Fissured deeply, £ to i£ inches thick : broken up into 

 scaly lumps when old : dark brown like that of English Walnut : 

 of 2 layers : the inner tV inch thick, soft and corky. 



Uses, etc. Shuttle-making, turnery, shoe-lasts, plane-stocks. 



149 



