888 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV11L 



weigh the branches down. The flowers are of a deep rose colour, of great 

 beauty, resembling large Rhododendron flowers. 



Brownea coccinea (scarlet"). — A short spreading tree, native of South 

 America and introduced to Ceylon in 1849. It is distinguished from the other 

 Browneas by the small but numerous clusters of scarlet flowers produced on 

 the stem and older branches. 



Brownea grandiceps (large-headed). — A larger and handsomer tree than 

 either of the former two, native of Venezuela, introduced into Ceylon in 1870. 

 A very beautiful tree when in blossom, the flowers being borne in very large 

 heads at the ends of the branches, bright red in colour. The foliage too is 

 very handsome. The young leaves are produced in long, drooping branches 

 similar to those of Amherstia. 



Brownea macrophylla (large-leaved). — A strong growing species, 

 introduced in 1894. It is of a less free-flowering habit than those already- 

 named, but the flowers are the largest, and are of a pleasing shade of rose- 

 colour ; the long coloured stamens also distinguish the flowers from those of 

 the other species of Brownea. 



Botea prondosa (Leguminosce). — "Bengal kino -tree" ; " Gas-kel," S. ; 

 " Parasu," T. — An erect tree with trifoliate leaves indigenous to the forests 

 of the dry region of India, Ceylon, and Burma ; reaches a height of about 4G 

 feet, and bears in the dry months a profusion of orange-scarlet flowers. The 

 tree furnishes a resin (" Kino ") and a useful fibre ; a lac is produced on the 

 young twigs, and the flowers are used n India for dyeing yellow and 

 orange-red. 



Cassia fistula (Leguminosai).^-" Indian laburnum " ; " Puddingpipe" ; 

 " Ehela, " S. ; " Tirukkontontai, " T. — A small upright tree, common in the 

 forests of the dry region of Ceylon and India. A beautiful object when iij 

 blossom, the flowers being bright yellow borne in numerous long pendulous 

 racemes. The flowers are used in temple ceremonies, and the astringent bark 

 for tanning and in native medicine. The black cylindrical pods grow from 21) 

 to 30 inches in length ; the pulp of these is a well-known purgative. Suited 

 chiefly, to the rather dry country, but with good drainage will thrive in the 

 moist districts up to 2,U00 feet, 



Cassia grandis (great) — " Horse Caccia. " — A native of South America 

 growing to a height of 40 to 50 feet ; bears a profusion of pink infloresence 

 during the dry months of February and March, when the tree is completely 

 deciduous. The thick, curved pods, the pulp of which has an offensive smell, 

 are produced in abundance in June. 



Cassia marginata (marginated leaf). — " Ratu-wa, " S. ; " Vakai, " T. — A 

 small graceful tree with spreading drooping branches, common in the dry 

 region of Ceylon and also in Sonth India ; very ornamental when bearing 

 its racemes of rose-coloured flowers, produced in July and August. 



Cassia multijcga (many-yoked j — A slender quick-growing tree of Tropical 

 America, introduced to Peradeniya in 1851. Remarkably beautiful when in 



