ANIMAL AND PLANT LIFE. 151 
Of the Sapotacez, by far the most important is the Palu 
(Mimusops hexandra), but its distribution is erratic. It is 
plentiful between Lahugala and Pottuvil, but the individual 
trees are not large. Towards the Heda-oya, and in the arid 
country west of Panawa, it also occurs plentifully, but 
towards the Kumbukkan valley it again ceases to be abundant. 
This erratic distribution in a country that favours the growth 
of Palu is probably, as suggested earlier in this Paper, the 
outcome of early trade in this valuable timber. 
Munamal (Mimusops elengi) occurs very frequently, but 
does not become very large. Bassia longifolia I have already 
referred to. It is very plentiful up the Kumbukkan river, the 
trees there attaining an enormous size; elsewhere it is 
practically rare. 
Of the Ebenacez, perhaps the most common is Diospyros 
embryopteris, that occurs where there is moisture near at hand. 
The Veddas eat its fruit. 
D. ebenum, like “ Palu,” appears to have been largely 
exploited, with the result that it is only in remote spots that 
it is to be found in any abundance. D. ovalifolia occasional, 
growing in patches. 
Both Salvadora persica and Azima titracantha are abundant, 
the former being common near the coast, but neither in real 
forests. 
Of the Apocynacere, the most distressingly common is 
undoubtedly Carissa spinarum, that occurs always where treed 
forest has been cleared. Cerbera odollam is fairly plentiful in 
the Panawa Pattu, and is regarded as useful for fencing fields. 
Plumeria acutifolia is always associated with temples, 
abandoned or otherwise, but I failed to obtain any information 
regarding its introduction. 
Alstonia scholaris is not uncommon, and attains enormous 
proportions. 
Tabernemontana dichotoma is also to be found sparingly, 
but generally in damp spots. 
Of Asclepiads, Hemidesmus indicus is very plentiful in 
waste land. 
Calotropis gigantea is very abundant, especially near the 
sea. 
