IN CEYLON. 
163 
Seedlings epigeal, cotyledons persistent, epicotyledonary 
system late in development ; cotyledons pale green. 40 mm. 
long, 20-30 mm. broad, cordate, tapering apex, rounded 
base ; hypocotyl erect, 90 mm. long, 2-3 mm. diameter, 
glabrous, becomes black and four-cornered ; epicotyledonary 
system does not appear until several weeks or months 
after cotyledons fully developed ; epicotyledonary leaves are 
alternate and measure 25 mm. long, 12 mm. wide, glabrous, 
deep green, coarse bullate venation ; 2 traces to each 
cotyledon, xylem split considerably; epicotyledonary traces 
1 per leaf, not continued into root. 
Timber yellow with occasional black strands, inferior ; 
similar to D. sylvatica ; wood parenchyma wide lumined, 
tracheal elements rather low percentage number ; large 
radial strands of parenchyma occur in the wood ( cf . D. 
quæsita); the coloured contents are not abundant ; timber 
used for buildings. The wide lumined parenchyma and 
the sparse contents of the secondary xylem elements prove 
the timber to be of inferior quality. (See pi. II., fig 7.) 
Distribution limited to wet and intermediate zones of 
Ceylon, up to 2,500 feet ; Colombo, Ratnapura, Kurunegala, 
Hantane, Gangaruwa, Ambalawa, Karawita, Sinha Raja 
forest, Pindeniya, Eratne, Gammaduwa. 
Diospyros oocarpa, Thw. Enum. Ceyl. PL, p. 180, n. 9 
(1860). 
Kalu kadumberiya, Eta timbiri, S. ; Yellai karunkali, T. 
Thw. Enum. 180. C. P. 1,914. 
Fl. B. Ind. III., 560. Hiern, Mon. Eben. 171. 
A moderate-sized or large tree, evergreen, dioecious ; bark 
thick, dark surface, yellowish when cut, young shoots 
faintly pubescent ; flowers in April, fruits in September. 
Leaves alternate, 50-90 mm. long, 25-50 mm. wide, ovate 
or oval, obtusely acuminate at apex, rounded at base, glabrous 
and shining, thinly coriaceous ; venation widely reticulate 
and faintly pellucid, but inconspicuous in old leaves; petiole 
flat, 5 mm. long. (See pi. VII.,-fig. 7.) 
