12 
WRIGHT: THE GENUS DIOSPYROS 
or intermediate zone plants. In the dry zone, where the 
rainfall ranges from 35 to 70 inches, we have seven species, 
viz., D. Ebenum, D. Embryopteris, D. Melanoxylon, D. 
oocarpa, D. montana, D. affinis, and D. ovalifolia. The 
majority of these species, particularly D. Ebenum, D. ovali- 
folia, and D. Embryopteris, are to be found in abundance in 
local areas of the dry zone. D. oocarpa is less common, 
though at Mihintale, Dambulla, Haragama, Maturata, and 
Kalugala it is abundant in many of the forests. Of the dry 
zone species D. Melanoxylon has the most limited distribu¬ 
tion. It was first found by Dr. Trimen* between Bibile and 
Ekiriyankumbura in 1888, and the fact that its existence was 
not determined by Dr. Thwaites is sufficient to show its 
rarity. In 1901 its presence was again noted in this locality, 
and in addition a large number of plants were found on 
the patana and in the coarse forests at Elukapudena and 
Diggalrana to the south-west of Bibile. Many large trees 
were also found along the roadside from Bibile to Bintenna, 
and in the forest along the side and at the base of Bibile hill. 
The remaining thirteen species occur in the wet zones, 
where the rainfall is never less than 80 inches, and in places 
often reaches over 300 inches per annum, and at elevations 
from sea level to 4,000 feet. The most generally distributed 
species are D. insignis and D. Toposia. In the districts around 
Ratnapura, Sinha Raja forest, Pasdun korale, and Hiniduma, 
the species D. hirsuta, D. Moonii, and Thwaitesii are specially 
abundant. In the higher parts of the wet zones, as at 
Ambalawa, Hantane, Kadugannawa, and Gangaruwa, abun¬ 
dance of D. crumenata, D. Gardneri, and D. sylvatica is met 
with. The remaining species are rare, and occur in the low- 
lying wet forests of the Southern and Western Provinces. 
The rarest of the wet zone species is undoubtedly D. 
oppositifolia. Specimens of this species were collected at 
Hiniduma in 1853 by Dr. Thwaites, and this was the 
only material which Dr. Trimen ever saw. This species is 
Flora of Ceylon, Yol. III., p. 99. 
