136 
WRIGHT : THE GENUS DIOSPYROS 
a high per cent, of tracheal elements and small quantity of 
gum-resin. The heartwood is usually small and considerably 
decayed. The contents of the elements are scarce compared 
with the red or black woods of other species. Many 
specimens show thinly streaked heartwood, the black lines 
of which help to form a pretty pattern (cf . D. quæsita). (See 
pi. I., fig. 6.) 
Uses .—Only the timber is used. 
Distribution .—Common in dry region and intermediate 
zone, rare in moist region. Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, 
Kalugalla, Vavuniya, Madawachchi. Also in Madras and 
Anamalai hills. 
D. montana, Roxb ., Cor. PL, p. 37, t. 48 (1795). 
Mulkarunkali, Katukanni, Vakkana, T. 
Thw. Enum. 423. C. P. 1,909 (3,774). Hiern, Mon. Eben. 
220. Fl. B. Ind. III., 555. Wight, Ic. t. 1,125. 
A moderate-sized or small tree, dioecious, partially decidu¬ 
ous in the Northern Province ; bark yellowish or silvery 
grey, smooth, shiny, thin, being 4-6 mm. in thickness, yellow 
when freshly cut ; sharp spines on main stem, branches, 
and twigs, stumps of spines often characteristic of old 
trunk ; flowers in September ; fruits ripe in March-Septem- 
ber ; tree flowers when only 75 mm. diameter. Leaves 
25-100 mm. long, 15-50 mm. wide, alternate, oval, oblong or 
lanceolate-oblong, obtuse or rounded apex, rounded or cordate 
at base, finely pubescent when young, glabrous when old, 
thin, yellowish-green, venation not pronounced ; petiole 
2-12 mm. long, finely pubescent. (See pi. XVL, fig. 7.) 
The spiny character of the stem structures is said to be 
found only on one variety of this species, but it has been 
noticed on every plant reared at Peradeniva, even when only 
two years old. 
Male inflorescence ; Cymes 3-flowered or panicled in axils 
of small caducous bracts or young persistent foliage leaves. 
Main peduncle of inflorescence thin, green, 2-6 mm. long. 
Each lateral flower arises in the axil of a small narrow 
