TROPICAL FRUITS, FOR LOU' ELEVATIONS 151 



handsome West Indian tree, with striking dark green leaves, which 

 are copper-coloured underneath. The purplish, smooth, round fruit 

 is four-seeded, the seeds being brown and i inch long. In an un- 

 ripe state the fruit contains a sticky white latex, but when fully 

 matured the white, transparent, jelly-like substance surrounding 

 the seed is sweet and agreeable. The fruit when cut across 

 presents a stellate form, the cells with their white edible contents 

 radiating from the central axis; hence the name "star-apple." 

 The tree is well worth cultivating for ornament or shade for road- 

 sides, etc. It thrives at Peradeniya, where it was first introduced 

 in 1802. Propagated by seed, and thrives best in deep, rich and 

 well-drained soil. 



C. monopyrenum. Date-plum; " Ko s-eta-la wulu" S. ; 

 *' Seemaipala-pallam " T. An ornamental West Indian tree, of more 

 slender and upright habit than the preceding species, but resem- 

 bling it in the foliage; introduced at Peradeniya in 1814. As 

 the vernacular names signify, the fruit is similar in size and 

 form to a date-fruit or a Jak seed, and suggests a damson in 

 form and colour ; it has a thin shining, purplish-black outer skin* 

 and contains but one seed ; the milky reddish pulp is edible, but 

 rather insipid. The principal fruiting season for both this and the 

 preceding species is from February to April. Propagation by seed. 



Citrullus vulgaris (Cucurbitaceae). Water Melon. " Komadu" 

 or " Peni-komadu" S. A smooth, oval-shaped fruit, usually about 

 8 to 10 inches long, produced by a quick-growing creeping gourd, 

 commonly cultivated in the dry region of Ceylon and in the 

 tropics generally. The fruit is of a dark-green colour, with a 

 reddish juicy flesh, which is cool and refreshing in the hot season, 

 though rather insipid. In India it is described as in some cases 

 growing to an enormous size, "sometimes 3 to 4 ft. in length and 

 from 18 inches to 2 ft. in diameter," but the smaller-sized varieties 

 are the best. It is occasionally spherical in shape. The plants 

 will thrive on ordinary soil, provided sufficient moisture is afforded 

 at the root, and are best suited to dry districts. In India they are 

 commonly grown on the banks of rivers, where the Natives often 

 bury the fruit with sand, under which it grows and ripens slowly. 

 Easily propagated by seed. 



Citrus aurantium (Rutaceae). Sweet orange; " Peni-dhodan" 

 S. ; " Naran-kai" T. A small tree or shrub, 8 to 12 ft. high, supposed 

 to be a native originally of Northern India. The Orange has long 

 been cultivated in all warm climates, and is especially adapted 



