88 
WRIGHT : THE GENUS DIOSPYROS 
is widely open, as in D. Embryopteris and the urceolate 
flowers of D. sylvatica, the second all those in which the 
corolla tube communicates with the exterior by a very small 
aperture. The majority of the species have the corolla 
of male and female flowers of this type, and in many of 
them the aperture is exceedingly narrow and appears to be 
closed until a late stage in the development of the flower. 
The smallest apertures are to be seen in D. attenuata, 
D. quæsita, and D, Toposia. 
The smallness of the aperture renders it impossible for 
any but the smallest insects to enter them, and this, 
together with the inconspicuous nature of the flowers in 
general, may yet be found to be correlated with the evolution 
of sex in this genus. 
The sympetalous corolla with imbricated aestivation 
reminds one of the Styraceæ, Sapotaceæ, and Ilicineæ*. It is 
also true that the corolla segments are often deeply parti¬ 
tioned, and that such bear a resemblance to polypetalous 
orders. 
Hallierf lays stress upon the fact that the corolla segments 
are alternate with the five small, narrow and acuminate 
calyx segments in Pittosporaceæ and the Ebenales. This 
cannot be seriously regarded as of great importance, though 
one cannot but admit that the accessory whorls of, say, 
Pittosporum Timorense, Bl ., have a strong resemblance in 
form, colour, and texture to those of the male flowers of 
Diospyros species. 
Staminal Wliorl .—The staminal whorl is in the form of 
an epipetalous, hypogynous, or perigynous ring of stamens 
or staminodes in the male and female flowers respectively ; 
it is present in the flowers of every Ceylon species of 
Diospyros, and as an essential whorl is characteristic of the 
genus throughout the world. 
The components of the staminal whorl have a much more 
constant orientation and number in the female than in the 
* Hiern, l.o., p. 62. f Hallier, l.c ., p. 33. 
