J 56 
WRIGHT r THE GENUS DIOSPYROS 
Fruit ovoid-apiculate having a basal diameter of 22 mm., 
narrowing sharply in the upper part, then tapering gradually 
to an acute apex ; total length 35 mm. ; wall light green in 
colour, hairs short and sparse ; calyx of fruit enlarged to 
total diameter of only 16 mm., not accrescent, deeply lobed, 
thin, green, hairy. (See pi. XI., fig. 13.) 
Seeds 2-3-4 per fruit ; 25 mm. long, 10 mm. wide, 5 mm. 
thick ; elliptical-wedge or semilunar shape ; testa umber 
brown, smooth ; endosperm copious, equable. (See pi. XI., 
fig. 12.) 
Seedlings epigeal, cotyledons detached early, epicotyle- 
donary leaves enhanced developmentally. Cotyledons pale 
colour, ovate ; hypocotyl white turning black, 75-80 mm. 
long, 3 mm. diameter ; epicotyledonary stem 20-25 mm. 
long; first epicotyledonary leaves form an opposite pair, 
leaves being broadly ovate with tapering apex, rounded 
base, venation reticulate and feebly pellucid, length 40-45 
mm., and width 25-30 mm. ; traces 3 per cotyledon, xylem 
diffuse, epicotyledonary traces 1 per leaf. 
Timber red with small black decaying heartwood, heavy, 
very compact fine grain ; the smallness of the tree, maximum 
diameter being about 160 mm. (6-6J inches), renders it 
impossible for most commercial purposes ; tracheal elements 
are narrow but irregularly differentiated, fibres abundant. 
The medullary rays and vessels have characteristic large 
lumina. (See pi. III., fig. 10.) 
The coloured materials are absent from the fibres, but are 
moderately abundant in the medullary ray cells and vessels. 
The wide pits between adjacent medullary ray cells possess¬ 
ing coloured materials are often completely choked with the 
coloured material, suggesting the passage of these substances 
in solution from cell to cell. 
Distribution. —This is one of our very rare endemic 
species, being limited to the wet forests in the south of the 
Island. It occurs as a very small tree along river sides in the 
damp forests of Wewella, Pasdun korale, about eight miles 
north-west of Hiniduinkanda. It has also been found at 
