THE TECHNOLOGIST. [April 1, 1864. 



404 THE TIMBER TREES OF CEYLON. 



island. Planted from cuttings to form avenues, and such trees are gene- 

 rally hollow when old. "Wood a shade between the colour of walnut 

 and English elm. Felloes, naves, and panels of carriages and gun- 

 stocks. A tough excellent wood. 



Sterculiace^i. 



Adansonia digitata, L. " Papara Pooley-maram," T. — Naturalised in 

 Manaar and vicinity. Next in size to the Wellingtonia gigantea. Wood 

 soft. 



Salmalia Maldbarica. " Katu-imbul-gas," S. " Elavummarum,'' 

 T. — The red flowered silk cotton tree. Wood white, light, and spongy ; 

 used for small boats, floats, and models. 



Cullenia excelsa, Wight. " Kattu-bodde," S. " Konjie-maram," T. 

 — Tall straight tree, sixty to eighty feet high. Wood light, structure of 

 longitudinal section very peculiar under the microscope. 



Heritiera littoralis, Ait. " Homasderiya," S. — Looking-glass tree, 

 found near Colombo, on the banks of lakes and rivers. Said to afford 

 the red, strong, durable, Soondree, so well known in Bengal for house- 

 building. It is the toughest wood that has been tested in India ; when 

 Rangoon teak broke with a weight of 873 pounds, soondree sustained 

 1,312 pounds. It is not a very durable wood, but stands unrivalled in 

 strength. 



Sterculia fcetida. "Telambu," S. " Peenary-maram," T. — A large 

 tree applied to many useful purposes in India, and is supposed to pro- 

 duce the smaller of the Poon or Peon spars. 



ByTTNERIACE^E. 



Guazuma tomentosa. " Pattipariti, Ta." — It is called the Bastard 

 Cedar. It is naturalised in the north of the island, common in avenues 

 in Jaffna, and there are a few trees in Colombo. Its mucilaginous bark 

 is used to clarify sugar. Wood light and loose grained, but much used 

 in making furniture in India, and extensively by coachmakers for panels. 



Pterospermum suberifolium. " Velanga," S. " Taddeemaram," T. — 

 A tough walnut-like wood, used for gun-stocks and many useful pur- 

 poses. 



Grewia tiluvfoUa. " Dawaniya," S. " Thalathee-maram," — Wood 

 soft and easily worked, but contracts and expands mucb^ though well- 

 seasoned. 



Berrya Ammonilla. " Hal-mililla," S. " Tericonanalay-maram, Katta- 

 manak, and Shavandilly-niaram," T. — Perhaps the most valuable timber 

 tree in the island Large quantities of it are exported from Batticaloa 

 and Trincomalee to other parts of the island and to Madras, at which 

 last place it is known as Trincomalee wood, and of which the famous 

 Masoola boats are built. The wood resembles the English ash in colour, 

 and is highly esteemed for its lightness and strength ; is straight grained, 

 slightly pliant, tough, and little affected by the atmosphere. Used by 

 coachmakers, coopers, and house-builders for nearly every purpose to 

 which a good wood can be applied. Indigenous only to Ceylon. 



