*b WRIGHT : THE GENUS DIOSPTROS 
obtained from the genus Diospvros, but from a leguminous 
species, called Fomasinia ebenifera, Bertol. The natural 
order Leguminosae has long been known to yield variously 
coloured timbers, and in some countries the respective 
species furnish a marketable ebony, e.g. y Dalbergia Mela- 
noxylon, G. and P., the ebony of tropical Africa, and Brya 
Ebenus, DC., the Jamaica ebony. 
In Ceylon, however, the ebony of export is obtained 
exclusively from species of Diospyros, and mainly from the 
£“*** ’ be “' lm - Thi8 eb0 “y ^ Seen known from 
distant times, and some botanists believe that the ebonv 
mentioned m the Bible was obtained from this Island. 
According to Trimen* the tree was not t„„ 
Hermann, and only the timber of itT 
quotes from Grimm* as to its medicinal virtues 
“Trin7e!L?o eb0 V *»« are abundant about 
rl d oT r ’ " Trtme “ thi8 *• »<> earliest 
eoord of our most important ebony-yielding trees in Ceylon. 
Of solid black heartwood "C 1 "* ,° f .* g0Od P ro P ortion 
usually consists of mak' • P rellmma >7 examination 
principles, each officer e^orty^C whi“ 
1760. 
