41 



Rounding the corner by the pavilion observe two specimens 

 of the Frangipani, Plumieria alba, bearing white flowers ; 

 also Bauhinia variegata, and Bauhinia purpurea, both of 

 which are handsome flowering trees. Other trees near the 

 corner are : the Jamaica Dogwood, Piscidea Erythrina, 

 which affords a tough wood used for many purposes the root 

 bark being an intense narcotic ; the Red Silk Cotton tree, 

 Bombax malabaricum, mentioned elsewhere in this guide ; 

 and the Paradise nut of British Guiana, Lecythis Zabucajo. 

 The seed of this tree, known also as Sapucaia nuts, are 

 commonly sold in fruit shops, and are considered superior in 

 flavour to, and more easily digested than the Brazil 

 nut to which they are closely allied. Further along is a 

 fine Indian bamboo, Melocanna bambusoides. The tree 

 growing behind this specimen is Kydia calycina, valued for its 

 mucilaginous bark, which is said to be used in the northern 

 provinces of India to clarify sugar ; a strong fibre is also 

 prepared from the bark. Continuing along the path under 

 the shade of the Saman tree note Peltophorum ferrugineutn, 

 a handsome quick-growing tree of Ceylon and Malaya. The 

 flowers, which are sweet-scented and of a brownish-yellow 

 colour, are borne in large erect panicles, and appear at 

 irregular intervals, sometimes twice a year. 



Pithecolobium Berterianum, a tall specimen growing 

 behind the last named, affords a light shade, and is valued 

 as an ornamental tree. Proceeding further observe on the 

 lawn to the right, after passing the avenue of Acanthophoenix 

 rubra, (already noted in these pages), a fine specimen of 

 Myrospcnnum frutescens, a showy flowering tree of South 

 America ; and further in, behind this tree, a bed of the Betel 

 Nut palm, Areca Catechu, the seeds of which are commonly 

 used throughout Ceylon, India and Malaya as a masticatory. 

 In preparing the latter other ingredients are added, small 

 portions of the mixture being taken and wrapped separately 

 in leaves of the Betel Vine, Piper Betle, when it is then in a 

 convenient form to use. 



On reaching the corner take the path to the left. On 

 the right will be found a bed of Randia Mussaenda, a shrubby 

 plant bearing white flowers ; and Acanthorhiza aculeata, a 

 spiny palm of South America. 



