Agricultur. — Horticultur. — Forstbotanik. 222 



lui-meme au Piniis Cembra, avec son cortege d'especes franchement 

 alpines. Les derniers Cembros, avec Vaccinium Myrtillus et Primiila 

 pedemontana, atteignent 2300 m. sur le versant Oriente au N.-W. de la 

 Tete de Sangot. Cette essence est exclue des affleurements de 

 cargneules triasiques, riciies en calcaire, oü croit le M e 1 e z e pur 

 associ^ ä Dryas actopetala, Globularia cordifolia, Sesleria caerulea. 



J. Offner. 



Macmillan, H. f., Notes on Dioscoreas (Yams). (Circulars 

 and Agricultural Journal, Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon. 

 Vol. ill. No. 1. p. 1 — 19. 1905.) 



In the warmer regions of A si a, A f r i ca and America there occur 

 members of the genus Dioscorea commonly possessing tuberous, Under- 

 ground stems, which in several species are important sources of food. 

 In South America and the West In dies, Dioscoreas are commonly 

 known by the name „yam". The Sinhalese apply their equivalent for 

 yam, namely „ala" to any tuber; this usage is seen in the vernacular 

 names of the following plants with tuberous rootstocks: 



Rata-ala {Solanum tuberosum); Habar-ala (Alocasia); Innala {Plec- 

 tranthus); Bat-ala {Ipomea Batatas)\ k\a-houc\n {Pachyrhizus tuberosus). 



True yams are but little known to the natives of Ceylon, being 

 cultivated only in the Jaffna district in the north, whereas in for example 

 the West Indies they are one of the staple articles of diet. 



The author discusses the mode of propagation, cultivation, coo- 

 king etc. 



The greater part of the articie is devoted to a botanical description 

 and economic notes on the principal varieties occuring either as wild or 

 cultivated plants in Ceylon. To these the following key is given. 

 The first name is Sinhalese, the second Tamil. 



Stern 3 to 5 winged, t üb erif e rous, without prickles: 

 Leaves opposite, entire. 



Angilly-ala. Verralvalli-Kelengu. 



Bind har or Binnar Ala. 



Hingur or Ingur ala. 



Tapana or Rathu-ala. Sayuvalli-Kelengu. 



Kaharta-ala. Karavalli-Kelengu. D. alata 



Kirikondol. Arthuralli-Kelengu. 



Kirivel-ala. Vaithilayvalli-Kelengu. 



Niame Chino (West Indies). 



Niame Pellu (We s t I nd ies). 



Raja-ala. 



Rata-Kondol. 



Ratavel-ala. 



Vel-ala" Kodivalli-Kelengu. 

 Leaves 3 to 5 lobed. 



Sampu^ Cush-cush or Indian Yam (West Indies). 



D. trifida Linn. 

 Stern round, tuberiferous, without prickles. 

 Leaves altern ate. 



Udella or Uda-ala. 



Kodikarrana-Kelengu. D. bulbifera L. 



Stem round or slightly grooved, tuberiferous, 

 without prickles. 



Leaves alternate or opposite, entire. 



Hiritala, Sheenvalli-Kelengu. D. obcnneata Hook. fil. 



Tava-ala etc. Shoravalli-Kelengu. D. fasciculata Hook. 



Katukukul-ala. D. fasciculata Hook. 



Kukul-ala. Shiriwalli-Kelengu. D. fasciculata Hook. 



Tambur-ala. Podhalivalli-Kelengu. D. sp. 



Kaha-Japana-ala. Guinea Yam. D. aculeata L. 



