286 BOTANICAL INFOU3IATION. 



ami in sand under sheds, the sweet perfumed Pancratmm Zey- 

 lanicum, the showy Gloriosa superba^ and Hibiscus Suratten- 

 sis, whilst Hibiscus sp.^ Vitex trifolia, Memecylon ramiflorvm, 

 Eugenia Zeylanica, and Elcsocarpus serratiiSy are common 

 trees. I know not of any more beautiful than the last when 

 in blossom from its bird-cherry-like cluster of profuse and 

 fringed flowers, and its leaves in sear turning to a brilliant 

 scarlet. Lantana aculeata, or an allied species, is likewise 

 common near the lake. 



The above sketch of the Ma Nuga, or Banyan tree, is not 

 one which Strutt would have chosen. I mean to say, that so 

 far from the specimen being that of a Banyan remarkable for 

 size or beauty, it is (although an old tree), rather under the 

 usual proportions ; but it was the only specimen on which, 

 at that time, I could conveniently exercise my pencil. 



At Matalai in the interior of Ceylon I saw a very interest- 

 ing specimen of the same species, which had just arrived at 

 maturity, and was said to be about fifty years old. Its 

 branches wereof great length, extending on all sides to about 

 forty feet from the stem, with a few rooting shoots dropping 

 from them to the ground, all of which were carefully pro- 

 tected by the natives. If its age has been correctly reported, 

 it would appear that this Banyan may remain a long time 

 without requiring the support for which its species is so cele- 

 brated. But when the growth of the branches becomes too 

 great and too heavy for the stem, the first care of nature is 

 to fortify the latter, before she resorts to the archway system. 

 Such, at least, was beautifully exemplified in this tree, which 

 had (apparently not long previously) thrown out from the 

 lower branches an enormous fringe of radiating shoots, encir- 

 cling the whole stem, of equal length ; and when I saw the 

 tree, hanging to within a few feet of the ground. This 

 fringe was several feet broad; and in rain, could have afforded 

 perfect shelter underneath, supposing there had been no 

 foliage to the branches. The twigs of the Banyan when 

 broken, yield a clammy white milk. The nuts {or figs) are 

 in pairs and of an orange red colour, except the base which is 



