153 
IN CEYLON 
a few hours after fruits collected ; fruiting calyx only 
slightly enlarged, segments inclined or nearly horizonal, 
thin, no cup formed, 11 mm. length, 4 mm. wide at base. 
(See pi. XIII., fig. 11.) 
Seeds 1-4 per fruit, elliptical-wedge to globose-ovoid in 
shape ; testa reddish-brown, smooth, 16 mm. long, 10 mm. 
wide, 10 mm. thick ; endosperm equable and under great 
pressure in young fruits ; embryo white, 6-10 mm. long. 
(See pi. XIII., fig. 12.) 
Seedlings epigeal, cotyledons detached early, epicotyledon- 
ary leaves enhanced developmentally, testa does not split 
(cf. D. ovalifolia) ; cotyledons white, glabrous, square base, 
rounded apex, prior to detachment measure 11 mm. long, 
8 mm. wide ; hypocotyl reddish and densely covered with 
long white hairs (very characteristic), 70-80 mm. long, 
5 mm. diameter ; epicotyledonary stem red, 10 mm. long, 
first two epicotyledonary leaves form opposite pair ; traces 
3 per cotyledon, xylem of median trace equal or stronger 
than either lateral, diffused in lower part of hypocotyl ; 
epicotyledonary traces 1 per leaf, weak, continued into 
root, but not into apical parts. (See pi. XVIII., figs. 1-5.) 
Timber never black, but white tinged with yellow 
when freshly cut, on exposure turns red ; heavy, compact ; 
elements partially filled with reddish-brown deposit, low per 
cent, number of tracheal elements, and 78*30 to 80*99 per 
cent, fibres. The small size of trees of this species renders 
the extraction of the coloured wood, when present, un¬ 
profitable. (See pi. I., fig. 1.) The hairs on the twigs and 
fruits are said to possess stinging properties. F. Lewis, Esq., 
suggested the appropriate native name for this species. 
Distribution limited to our wet zone, Southern Province 
and South-Western Province, up to 2,000 feet. This is 
one of our very rare species. Thwaites collected the 
vegetative organs only. Trimen did not see either flowers 
or fruits of this species. In the forests of Gilimale, Sinha 
Raja, Marakelle, Idikada-Mukalana, and Koskandahena the 
plant occurs as a sparsely foliated bushy tree, 900-1,500 mm. 
