178 
WRIGHT : THE GENUS DIOSPYROS 
The contents of the parenchymatous and tracheal elements 
are, as one might expect, always conspicuous. In the red 
sap wood the coloured contents are almost limited to the 
medullary ray cells, but in the black heartwood every 
element is filled with reddish-brown materials. A dis¬ 
colouration also appears in the walls. 
The differentiation of the elements is comparatively regular. 
The percentage number of fibres is approximately 81, and 
the maximum variation is presented in the cells of the wood 
parenchyma. Insignificant rings of growth can be distin¬ 
guished, sometimes continuous throughout the section, at 
other times on one side only. I believe that if old trees of this 
species were only more abundant we should have a valuable 
source of ebony, quite equal to D. Ebenum from an economic 
point of view. Its limited distribution in Ceylon is not 
due to non-production of fruit. 
Distribution .—This species is very rare in Ceylon. It was 
first found between Bibile and Ekiriankumbura, Uva, in 
1888. It was unknown to Thwaites and according to Trimen 
(FI. Ceyl. p. 99) there were no known specimens from the 
Island except from the above locality. The flowers were 
first obtained in Ceylon, in May, 1901. 
It occurs on the patana and coarse forests to the south-west 
of Bibile in the localities Elukkapudena, Antibuwana, and 
Diggalrana. At the first-mentioned place at an elevation of 
700-900 feet, the tree is found on patana ground, and there 
rarely exceeds a total height of 9*1 metres (30 feet) and breast 
height circumference of 305 mm. (1 foot), though the trees are 
probably very old. At the latter places, the tree reaches a 
height of 18‘3 metres (60 feet) and circumference of 1-1*67 
metres (3f feet—5^ feet). 
Other trees also occur along the Bibile-Bintenna road, near 
Bibile, at the base of a small hill. 
Uses ,-—The Sinhalese call the tree Kadumberiya in this 
district. They collect the unripe fruits and after steeping 
them in water for two to three days, pronounce them fit to eat. 
Ripe fruits are abundant from May to July. 
