CuAP. I.] S^\:^D FORMATION. 49 



tion in the fertilisation of tliese arid formations, is the 

 Spinifex squarrosus, the " water pink," as it is sometimes 

 called by Europeans. The seeds of tliis plant are con- 

 tained in a cu'ciilar head, composed of a series of spine- 

 like divisions, which radiate from the stalk in all direc- 

 tions, making the diameter of the whole about eight to 

 nine inches. When the seeds are mature, and ready for 

 dispersion, these heads become detached from the plant, 

 and are carried by the wind "with great velocity along 

 the sands, over the smface of which they are impelled 

 on their elastic spines. One of these balls may be 

 followed by the eye for miles as it hurries along the 

 level shore, dropping its seeds as it rolls, Avhich speedily 

 germinate and strike root where they fall. The glo- 

 bidar heads are so buoyant as to float hghtly on the 

 water, and the uppermost spines acting as sails, they are 

 thus carried across narrow estuaries to continue the pro- 

 cess of embanking on newly-formed sand bars. Such an 

 organisation irresistibly suggests the wonderful means 

 ordained by Providence to spread this valuable plant 

 alono; the barren beach to which no seed-devomino; bird 

 ever resorts ; and even the unobservant natives, struck 

 by its singular utihty in resisting the encroachments of 

 the sea, have recorded their admiration by conferring 

 on it the name of Maha-Rawana 7'wwula, — " the great 

 beard of Eawana or Eama." 



The banks being thus ingeniously protected fi'om the 

 action of the air above, and of the water at their base, 

 other herbaceous plants soon cover them in quick suc- 

 cession, and give the entire surface the first aspect of 

 vegetation. A httle retired above high water are to be 

 found a species of Aristolochia^, the Sayan ^, or Choya^ 



^ Aridolochia hractectta. On the 

 sands to the north of Ceylon there is 

 also the A, Indica, which fonns the 

 food of the oreat red and white but- 

 tei"fly {Papilio Hector). 



^ Hedyotis untbelkda. A very cu- 

 rious account of the Dntr'h policy in 



VOL. I. E 



relation to Choya dye will be found in 

 a_ paper On the Vef/etoble Produc- 

 tions of Ceylon, by W. C. Oxdaat- 

 JIE, in the Ceylon Calendar for 

 1853. See also Beexolacci, B. iii. 

 p. 270. 



