312 ORNAMENTAL FOLIAGE TREES 



'- twice a year, during the drier months. These closely resemble 

 the old-fashioned candles of shops. Propagated by seed. 



Pisonia morindifolia. Nyclaginciv. Lettuce Tree ; u Wata- 

 banga Kola" 5. " Lechchai Kedda " or " Chandi " T. A small 

 tree with very striking pale-yellow foliage, much cultivated on the 

 sea coast, to which it is specially adapted. Propagated by cut- 

 tings. The leaves are edible, and cattle are fond >f ihem. 



Pithecolobium (Inga) Saman. Lcginiiinosae. Rain tree; 

 Quango ; Saman Tree ; " Peni-karal " S. This large spreading, 

 quick-growing tree is too common in Ceylon to need description, 

 being commonly planted throughout the Island as a shade tree 

 for public and private roads, etc. It was first introduced from 

 South America into Ceylon, through Peradeniya, about 1850. The 

 tree is easily propagated from seed, the season for which is 

 usually from March to May. The brown pods are about 5 to 7 

 inches long and contain a quantity of sweet sugary pulp, which 

 cattle relish, and are exported from South America as a cattle food. 

 The small pinnate leaves have the habit of closing at night. The 

 supposed property possessed by the tree of producing rain is 

 mythical, and is probably derived from the excretion of moisture 

 sometimes produced on the leaves by means of insects. 



Podocarpus cupressina. Conifcrae. A small or medium-sized 

 ornamental evergreen tree, with rine graceful feathery foliage, 

 native of Malaya, introduced at Peradeniya in 1880. 



Pometia eximia. Sapindacene. " Gal-mora " or " Bulu-mora," 

 S. A handsome tree with a straight erect trunk and large spread- 

 ing head, native of the moist low-country of Ceylon up to about 

 1,500 feet ; also indigenous to Malaya, etc. Grows to 80 or 100 

 feet in height. Seeds in July and August. 



Pterocarpus echinatus. A handsome foliage tree. (See 

 under Beautiful Flowering Trees.} 



P. indicus. Leguminosae. "Padouk. 1 ' A very handsome 

 huge tree of Burma, with a spreading round head, long drooping 

 branchlets, and small pinnate leaves; bears a profusion of yellowish, 

 sweet-scented flowers in March or April, followed by circular 

 button-like pods. 



Ravenala madagascariensis. Scitainineae. Travellers' Tree. 

 A unique and remarkable looking tree of Madagascar, introduced 

 at Peradeniya before 1824. It thrives best in a hot and humid 



