142 
WRIGHT : THE GENUS DIOSPYROS 
centre of very old trees ; black strands occur irregularly in 
parts of the sapwood usually in association with wounds. 
This species attains a very large size in the wet and dry 
zones. The coloured contents of the elements are rarely 
abundant and the tree is therefore seldom felled with a view 
to obtaining ebony therefrom. Seasonal rings of growth 
are poor and irregular, but visible to the naked eye (see 
pi. V., fig. 20). Some specimens possess 85T per cent, of 
fibres ; nevertheless the timber is very inferior to ebony, and 
is even less durable than red woods of other species. 
Varieties.-—V&r. atrata, Thw. l.c . C. P. 2.731. 
Leaves thinly coriaceous ; buds, peduncles, and calyx 
densely covered with brown hairs. 
Var. nervosa , Thw. l.c . C. P. 1,910. 
Leaves very coriaceous, veins prominent on both sides, 
rounded at base ; buds, peduncles, and calyx covered with 
black hairs ; calyx segments enlarged, erect, and about as 
long as fruit. 
Uses .—The fruit possesses a large quantity of gum and 
tannin, and the juice is used as a tan for fishing nets and for 
the planks of boats. The fruit and the bark both possess 
astringent properties and are used medicinally. The leaves 
are sometimes eaten as a vegetable. The timber is occasion¬ 
ally used for masts and yards for small boats. 
Distribution .—Common in dry countries, especially along 
banks of streams, tanks, &c., invariably associated with 
Terminalia glabra in these localities ; also occurs in the 
moist regions, particularly along streams, and associated with 
D. Moonii, Thw. Galle, Rayigam korale, Ratnapura, Amba- 
lawa, Bibile, Viriniya, Bintenna, Hinidum, Yavuniya, Jaffna, 
Madawachchi,Hantane,Gangaruwa, Kadugannawa. Also in 
India and Malaya. 
Diospyros Toposia, Hamilt. in Trans. Linn. Soc., Yol. 
XV., p. 115 (1827). 
Kahakala, Kaluwella, S. ; Vellei Thoverii, T. 
