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C37 
The Genus Diospyros in Ceylon : its 
Morphology, Anatomy, and Taxonomy. 
BY 
HERBERT WRIGHT» 
Part I 
HE original portion of this paper deals exclusively with 
the genus Diospyros, L ., as represented in Ceylon by 
some twenty species, of which Trimen remarks : “ Very little 
is known about many of our species, which are rare or local in 
the forests of the wet region and seem to flower but seldom. 
The native Sinhalese names are vaguely applied or very local, 
and refer more tö the wood than to the trees themselves ; and 
one is rarely able to obtain both wood and herbarium speci¬ 
mens from the same tree, in which way alone it is possible 
to be justified in definitely deciding the source of the former. 
The various rare mottled cabinet-woods, which appear to be 
produced only by very old trees, and are known as calaman- 
der (kalu-mediriya, wal-mediriya, ho-mediriya, &c.), have 
mostly yet to be referred to their respective species.” In 
view of this lack of definite knowledge and the commercial 
value of ebony, calamander, and other timbers, the present 
investigation, which has occupied much time during the last 
three years, both in the forests and in the laboratory, was 
undertaken. 
The present contribution is divided into two parts, the first 
part containing a general statement of, and a discussion on, 
the various subjects investigated ; the second part a detailed 
[Annals of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Feradeniya, Vol. IL, Pt. I., January, 1904.] 
8(1)4 
