200 FOEEST TBEES. 



LII. CONVOLVULAOE^. 



There are no trees of this Order in Mysore. But 

 the reserved forests abound in numerous species of 

 Ijoomaea, Argyreia and Lettsomia, many of which, by 

 reason of their quick development and investing 

 nature," are exceedingly injurious to the growth of 

 young trees. These twiners not only grow with 

 extraordinary rapidity, but also lay hold of, and coil 

 themselves around and over, every other plant 

 within their wide range of growth. It is not sur- 

 prising, therefore, that small trees suffer to a large 

 extent when such aggressive twiners are allowed to 

 spread. The large campanulate flowers are always 

 attractive, and seen trailing over a succession of 

 bushes, or, festooned from one tree to another, they 

 afford a striking picture. These, with a few species 

 possessing medicinal properties, are here briefly 

 mentioned. For a full account, the reader should con- 

 sult that excellent work " Pharmacographia Indica." 



406 Argyreia speciosa, Sweet. Kan. Samudrapala. 

 The elephant creeper. This climber often ascends 



to the tops of the highest trees. The leaves and 

 root are the parts used. 



407 Lettsomia sp, Kan. Oogani liambii. 



This is the commonest ground creeper of waste 

 land. The juice of the plant is popularly applied 

 to bruises, and the tou^h pliant stems are used by 

 the raiyats in Heu of ropes for tying up bundles of 

 field or forest produce. 



408 Ipomaea Turpethum, Be. Kan. Bilitigadu, Tiga- 



dikeputigadi. 

 Furnishes Turpettiroot, or Indian jalap. 



409 Ipomaea hederacea, Jaoq. 



Known to Europeans as " morning glqry," and 

 often cultivated in gardens for its sky-blue flowers. 

 The seeds arp looked upon as a sure cathartic. 



