580 FLY-CATCHING AND ALLIED PLANTS 



Laportea crenulata. Fever-or Devil-nettle; " Maussa," S. (Urticaccac). A large 

 shrub with large oval leaves; whole plant clothed with minute stinging 

 hairs, which sting severely, the distressing effects often remaining for 



many days. 

 Lobelia nicotianaefolia. " Wild Tobacco;" Rasni, S. (Campannlaceue). A large 



herbaceous perennial, 4 to 10 ft. high, with large oblong leaves, found 



in open ground at 4,000 to 7,000 ft. The leaves and seeds are acrid and 



poisonous. 

 Mirabilis Jalapa. Jalap Plant; Marvel-of-Peru; Four o'clock Flower; Hand- 



rikka. S. (Nyctagineae). An annual, 2 ft. high, with white or pink flowers. 



Roots and seeds poisonous. 

 Modecca pal ma la. " Hondala " or " Potu-hondala," S. (Passifloraceae). Small 



perennial climber with large shiny leaves, common in moist low country; 



the round scarlet fruit, of the size of an orange, is poisonous and has 



been known to cause death. 

 Nerium oleander. Oleander; " Arali " or " Araliya," S. T. (Apocynaceae) 



Shrub or small tree, with milky juice and large showy pink or white 



flowers. The roots are poisonous. 

 Ochrosia borbonica. '* Mudu-kaduru." S. (ApocyiMCeac). Small tree with greenish 



white flowers, common near the sea-coast; the bright red fruit is con- 

 sidered poisonous. 

 Piunbago zeylanica. " Elu-nitul," S. (Pln'mbtigincac). A perennial herb, with 



long succulent roots, which are acrid and pungent, being sometimes 



used for illegal purposes. 



Sapium indicum. " Kiri-makulu." S. (Euphorbiaceac), Small tree with smooth 

 white bark and willow-like leaves; the acrid milky juice is very poisonous 



Solanum verbacifolium. " Hekarilla," S. (Solanaceae). Large shrub, covered 



with a dense yellowish-grey tomentum; moist region up to 6,000 ft. 



Fruit poisonous. 

 Streblus asper. " Geta-netul." S; "Pirasu," S. (Urticaccae). A shrub or small. 



tree, with scabrous leaves, common in the low-country. The yellow 



fruit is edible, but the bark is an irritant poison. 



Strychnos Nux-vomica. Nux-vomica; " Goda-kaduru," S. (Logatiiaceae). A fairly 

 large tree, common in the forests of the dry region; the seeds are the 

 source of strychnine and are powerfully poisonous 



Yucca gloriosa. Adam's Needle. (Liliaccae). A semi-woody branchless plant, 

 6 to 8 ft. high, with long, rigid, sharply pointed leaves; the roots are 

 poisonous. 



INSECTIVOROUS, FLY-CATCHING AND ALLIED PLANTS 



Aldrovanda vesiculosa. Water fly-trap. (Droseraceae). A rootless swimming 

 water-plant of S. Europe, remarkable for the inflated extremities of the 

 sensitive leaves, which act as floats and for capturing small water animals, 

 which the plant digests. 



Aristolochia, many species. " Fly catching Plants.'' (Aristolochiaceae). A re- 

 markable family of plants (mostly climbers), with variously shaped 

 flowers, which in some species are very large; most have an offensive 

 odour, which attracts flies. In most species the flowers are adapted to 



