144 NOTES ON THE FLORA OF CEYLON. 



was long in doubt as to its identity, and inclined to refer it to 

 some Protium. Prof. Oliver, however, to whom I submitted 

 specimens, was of opinion that the plant was probably merely a 

 luxuriant state of B. Bernji, and I believe him to be perfectly 

 correct, the wet climate of Colombo accounting for the change. 



Prutium should be combined with Balsa mode ndron, as is done 

 by Wight, Marchand, Baillon and Eugler, under various names. 

 Both genera possess the peculiar lobed arilloid investment of the 

 pyrene (" mesocarp ' in Med. Plants, t. 59) ; in B. caudatum March. 

 [Protium W. & A.) this is very conspicuous, being bright salmon- 

 red. 



Vitis tomentosa Heyne. — Found in the forest near Anurad- 

 hapura, the ancient capital of Ceylon, Oct. 1883. A rather 

 handsome species, with large masses of dark vinous-red crowded 

 flowers and tloccose wide-climbing stems ; justice is scarcely done 

 it in Wight, Ulust. t. 57. On the mainland it is confiued to the 

 south parts of the peninsula. 



Cardioapermnm canescens Wall. — This pretty climber is abundant 

 and ornamental in the country round about Hambantota, covering 

 the scrub with its delicate foliage and milk-white blossoms. In 

 full flower in December. The pubescence is very minute, and 

 barely justifies the specific name. The species is found in the 

 south of peninsular India, also in Burmah and Abyssinia. 



Ehyiichosia densi/Ioni DC. — Near Tissa-maha-rama S. Province, 

 sparingly, Dec. 1882. A South Indian species, which has also 

 occurred in E. Trop. Africa. 



Bauhinia Angaina Koxb. [B. scandens li., pro max. parte, non 

 Roxb.).— There is some doubt whether this great climber can be 

 considered other than as an introduction. I found several large 

 masses of it at the foot of Doluwa Kaude, a hill about eight miles 

 north of Kurunegala, and it has been reported from one or two 

 other spots ; but it has not been found in flower. A very large 

 specimen in the Peradeniya Gardens has long been an object 

 of curiosity and interest, but this also has never flowered. The 

 figures in the ' Hort. Malabaricus,' viii., tt. 29-31, are sufficiently 

 characteristic of the " chain-cable "-like stems; the young trailing 

 shoots run extensively over the ground and root at the joints ; the 

 plant is thus easily propagated either accidentally or by intention. 



Acacia ptanifronsW . & A. — Good specimens of this characteristic 

 species were sent to me in October, 1882, from the Island of 

 Mannar, one of the most arid tracts in the colony. It appears to 

 be so abundant there as to be largely cut for firewood, and even 

 exported to India (see Vincent's ' Report on Ceylon Forests,' pars. 

 98 & 121). The Tamil name is " Odai," and the pods are said to 

 be a good cattle-food. I was greatly struck with the cedar-like 

 growth of this acacia in S. India (as seen from the railway), on the 

 low rocky hills near Ayyalur Station, between Trichinopoly and 

 Madura ; it is well called •' Umbrella Tree " by the English. It is 

 also frequent at Tuticorin, and plants have occasionally sprung up 

 on the shore at Colombo from seeds brought no doubt with ballast 

 from that neighbouring port. Roxburgh's unsatisfactory figure of 



