340 JOURNAL, BOMBAY XATL'RAL HiSTvHY SOCIETY i 



The following remarks on this plant occur in Emerson Tennerit s 

 "History of 'Ceylon ," Vol. I., pp. 4S-9:— 



"Another plant which performs an important, function m the 

 fertilisation of these sand formations, is the Spini/r.c squdWosm, the 

 "water-pink" as it is sometimes called by Europeans. The seeds of 

 this plant are contained in a circular head, composed of a series of 

 spine-like divisions which, radiate from the stalk in all directions, 

 making the diameter of the whole about 8 to 9 inches. When thy 

 seeds are mature and ready for dispersion, these heads befcbme de- 

 tached from the plant, and are carried by the wind with groat velo- 

 city along the sands, over the surface of which they are impelled on 

 their elastic spines. One of these balls may be followed by the eye 

 for miles as it hurries along the level shore, dropping its seeds as 

 it rolls, which speedily germinate and strike root where they fall. 

 The globular beads are so buoyant as to float lightly on the water, 

 and the uppermost spines acting as sails, they are thus carried across 

 narrow estuaries to continue the process of embanking on newlv- 

 formed sand bars. Such an organisation irresistiblv suo-g-ests the 

 wonderful means ordained by Providence to spread this valuable 

 plant along the barren beach to which no seed-devouring bird cwr 

 resort?; and even the unobservant natives, struck by its singular 

 utility in resisting the encroachments of the sea, have recorded 

 their admiration b}' conferring on it the name of Maha Rawana 

 Rewula, 'the great beard of Rawana or Rama,' " 



MAYPEJE. 



Ooix, Li// n. 



C. hichryn/ii, Linn., Sp. 1374; Dalz. and Gib. Bo. Ft. 289. 



Vorn. Ratid-jondhala. Mand-mqka, Kassar, Kasaia. Gurnttr and 

 Kk itch in Bengal (Tio.rb.). 



Very common. Eaten by cattle. The pounded seeds are used as 

 an article of food by hill-tribes. The involucre, which is known here 

 by the name of " Kassai-bii, " is used in native medicine as a diuretic. 



C. qi'gantea, Koenig. MS. Roxb. FI. hid. TIT. o70. 



Yern, Name as the preceding. Ke&ai, Dangg gurmt\ Bengal 



( OCfCO . ) 



