890 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol XVIII. 



Lagerstrusmia flos-reginje (Lythracetu)— " Pride of India " ; " Murutu," S. 

 — A tree of extraordinary beauty, about 50 to 60 feet in height, native of 

 Ceylon, India and Malaya. It is undoubtedly one of the most strikingly 

 showy of flowering trees. It is deciduous for a short time in the dry weather, 

 but from April to July or later it bears from the ends of the branches 

 huge panicles of large mauve or pink flowers. There are two or more varieties 

 with the flowers varying from shades of mauve to a lovely bright pink. 



Lagerstrcemia tomentosa ( Lythraceai ). — A moderate-sized handsome 

 tree, native of hot and moist parts of Burma, introduced at Peradeniya in 1891. 

 It blossoms twice a year, April and October, bearing large erect panicles of 

 lovely white flowers, produced from the end of every branch. A very orna- 

 mental tree when in blossom. 



Lysidice riiodestegia ( LeguminoscB ). — A large handsome tree, native of 

 Southern China, introduced at Peradeniya in 1882. It thrives here and bears 

 from December to February masses of pink or rose-coloured inflorescence, pro- 

 duced at the extremities of the branches. The persistent coloured calyces 

 render the tree very showy for several weeks. A handsome tree when in flower. 



Mesua ferra (Gutttferce).—" Iron-wood " ; " Na-gaha," S. ; " Naka," T.— A 

 moderate-sized, broadly conical, slow-growing tree, native of the hot and moist 

 regions in Ceylon, India and Malaya. A very handsome tree, much in favour 

 for planting near Buddhist temples. It blossoms profusely in the months of 

 April or May, the large white flowers with yellow stamens, being delicately 

 scented. The young leaves, which appear twice a year, are of an intense blood- 

 red colour, passing through delicate shades of pink into the dark green of the 

 adult growth. 



Millingtonia HORTENSIS {Bignoniacece). — " Indian Cork-tree." — An erect tree 

 with deep-green finely divided foliage, reaching a height of fifty feet or more ; 

 bears in November and June a profusion of long, pure white, fragrant flowers. 

 The tree is a favourite in Indian gardens ; thrives up to 2,000 feet in Ceylon. 



Oncoba spinosa ^Bixacea). — A small bushy tree of Arabia with light green, 

 small ovate leaves. It bears in April from the underside of the young branches 

 large single white flowers with yellow stamens, very delicately scented and 

 suggesting in appearance wild dog-roses of a large size. Introduced at Pera- 

 deniya in 1883. It has not yet set fruit. 



Peltophorum ferrugineum (Legumiuosce). — "Iya-vaki," T. — Avery large 

 quick-growing, symmetrical tree, with a spreading top and very graceful fine 

 foliage, indigenous to Ceylon and Malaya. The young leaves and shoots are 

 covered with a brown velvet tomentum, from which the tree takes its specific 

 name. It flowers twice a year, but during different months, being remarkable 

 for the fact that when one tree is in flower, another (of the same kind) side by 

 side may be in fruit, another may be deciduous ; the flowers are rusty yellow, 

 sweet-scented, and borne in large erect panicles. Dr. Trimen states : — " It is 

 a magnificent sight when in full blossom." It is suited to the dry region, but 

 also thrives to perfection in the moist region, up to 1.800 feet elevation. 



