14 
WRIGHT: THE GENUS DIOSPYROS 
truly wet zones. These two species, though attaining their 
maximum distribution in the dry areas around Anuradha- 
pura, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, &c., may also be found in the 
low-lying forests of Sabaragamuwa and the Central Province, 
sometimes being very plentiful along the banks of streams. 
In the moist regions D. Ebenum may extend up to 4,000 
feet, many occurring at Hantane, Ambalawa, Gangaruwa, 
Hinidunkanda', Borulugoda, Eratna, and Hewessa. The 
dimensions of trees of these two species when in the wet 
zone are usually but not always less than those from a dry 
zone. Specimens of D. montana, D. oocarpa, D. ovalifolia, 
or D. affinis have not yet been recorded from any wet zone 
area, though D. .oocarpa is known in the intermediate zone. 
III.—VEGETATIVE CHARACTERS . 
Dimensions , Habit , &c ,—As far as the Ceylon represen¬ 
tatives of the genus Diospyros are concerned, every species 
assumes an arborescent habit. 
It is characteristic of the dry zone species to attain huge 
dimensions. D. Ebenum, being the main source of ebony 
in the Island, is usually felled after attaining a breast-height 
circumference of 6 feet, but further increments are possible, 
and many trees are known with a circumference of 9 to 
10 feet. Specimens of D. affinis in the Viriniya and Bibile 
districts and of D. Embryopteris at Anuradhapura often 
attain a circumference of 9 feet and possess an unbranched 
bole over 50 feet in length. The total height of the dry zone 
species is often over 100 feet, and the huge dimensions are 
only departed from when the plant occurs in the wet zone 
areas. 
There is, however, one district in the wet zone where trees 
of D. Ebenum and D. Embryopteris attain dimensions which 
outrival those known in the dry zones. I refer to the 
Ambalawa district on the boundary between the Central and 
Sabaragamuwa Provinces, where the rainfall is over 100 
inches a year and the elevation varies from 2,000 to 3,500 
