MTSOUf km COOBG. i^S 



foot. Brandis recommends it for turning. Forest 

 officers make no mention of the species, but its exist- 

 ence in the western Malnad can scarcely be doubted. 

 Corolla lobes only six in number, whereas in 

 M. Elengi they are 16 — 20. M. Boxburghiana, Wight. 

 has not been reported also, although there is little 

 ^question of its existence in some of the hill forests. 

 The cultivation of these trees is unknown, but judg- 

 ing from their position, it should be confined to the 

 hill ranges, where there is plenty of shade and mois- 

 ture. 



XLIV. EBENACE^. 



352 Maba nigrescens, Dalz. 



A small tree of the "Western G-hats. Very hairy, 

 "young branches almost shaggy." Fl. of Brit. 

 Ind. Although small, the wood of this tree is said 

 to be prized for rafters for native houses. It is 

 also supposed that the berries are eaten by the hill 

 people. More information is required with speci- 

 mens and the local name. 



353 Diospyros montana, Roxb. Kan. Jagalaganti, 



Bilkunika, Balkunika, Kalnandi. 



Fig.—Bot. Plates Lal-Bagh Collection. WigU 

 Ic. t. 1225. WigU III. t. 148. 



References.— D«ci. ofJEcon. Prod, of Ind.; Brand. 

 For. Fl. ; Kurz. For. Fl. Burm. 

 A small tree on the plains but attaining a larger 

 size towards the hills and not uncommon all over 

 the province. Pandits use the bark and heartwood 

 in native medicine, and the fruit is used by the 

 Travancore hill-men to poison fish. Wood yellowish- 

 grey, finely grained, and easily worked ; but very 

 unpopular with the lower classes owing to the super- 

 stition that its presence in a house causes dissension 

 and strife among the occupants. It is well adapted 

 for making rafters, couples, and small articlesof fumi- 



