320 FOBEST TREES. 



The Arbor Vit^ . A small evergreen tree of local 

 gardens. Introduced from China, but seldom attain- 

 ing to more than a shrub in Mysore. The evergreen 

 branches are popularly used for Christmas decorations. 

 Succeeds well in the cooler climate of Ootacamund. 



LXX. CYOADAOE^. 



586 Cycas circinalis, Linn. Kan. Godda ichalu. 



This small tree, with its naked trunk and terminal 

 crown of long, pinnate, shining, coriaceous leaves, is 

 often mistaken for a palm or tree fern. But being 

 a well marked Gijmnospcrm, it bears no relationship 

 to these trees. The species is plentiful in the Mala- 

 bar district, where it mostly affects the low or inter- 

 mediate hills situated between the Ghats and the sea, 

 and where a useful flour is prepared from the nuts 

 of the tree. It is less abundant in this province, 

 and does not appear to enter into the domestic 

 economy of the people. The local vernacular name 

 is somewhat misleading, as Iclialu is the proper 

 name for the Mysore toddy palm, a species which 

 bears no affinity to the genus Ct/cgs. 



LXXI. SCITAMINE^. 



587 Musa superba, Eoxb. Kan. Kadu bali, Betta bali. 



Fig.-Wight Ic. t. 2017. Bot. Maij. t 3849— 

 3850. 



References.— FZ. of Brit. Inch; Did. of Econ. 

 Prod, of India. 



The hill plantain. An herbaceous or soft- wooded 

 tree of 12 to 15 feet. Indigenous to parts of the 

 Malnad, and occasionally cultivated for ornament; 

 symmetry of form and great beauty of leaf being 

 marked characteristics of the species. Leaves 



