April 1, 1864.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



THE TIMBER TREES OF CEYLON. 411 



Hymenoea verrucosa. — A tree growing in Colombo, produces a gum 

 said to be the source of copal ; wood very soit and brittle. 



Rosacea. 

 Pygeum zeylanicum, Gaert. " Gal-mora-gaha," S. — It is most likely a 

 species of Nephelium. The plant emits the greatest heat on being burnt, 

 a very important fact in Ceylon, where coals are often scarce and dear. 



COMBRETACE^E. 



Lumrdtzera racemosa, Willd. "Beriya," S. — Affects the same places 

 as the mangroves, where the sea generally has access. Timber small, 

 wood solid and heavy, remarkably strong and durable, and much used 

 for posts and other parts of houses of natives. 



Conocarpus latifolia, Roxb. " Dawu-gas," S., " Veckalie," T. — One 

 of the largest timber trees on the Circar mountains ; wood universally 

 esteemed for almost every economical purpose. Towards the centre it 

 is of a chocolate colour, and is tben exceedingly durable. For house 

 and ship-building, the natives reckon it superior to every other sort, 

 Kumbuk and Teak excepted. A variegated, hard, close-grained wood. 

 Found in open grassy places, and to the north of Kandy, up to an eleva- 

 tion of 1,500 feet. 



Terminalia Belerica, Roxb. "Bulu-gaka," S., " Tanikai," T. — From 

 the sea-coast to the open Patenas of the interior, where it is a very com- 

 mon tree. Wood used for coffee-casks, packing-cases, catamarans, grain 

 measures, &c. Its dried fruits (Myrobalans), like those of JEgle Marmelos, 

 are both astringent and laxative, as rhubarb is. 



T. Chebula, Retz. " Aralu-gaha," S, " Kadukai - marum," and 

 " Pilla-murdah-marum," T. — "Wood dark-coloured, heavy, and hard ; 

 heart part used for superior furniture, &c, but cross-grained and difficult 

 to work. Fruits (also Myrobalans), the ink-nuts of the bazaars. 



T. parviflora, Thw., Combretlum decandrum, Moon. " Hampalanda," 

 S. — Abundant in Ambegamoa and in margins of woods in the Central 

 Province up to 4,000 feet. Also common near Colombo. The wood ia 

 very hard and heavy. 



Pentaptera. 



T. glabra, W. et A., T. alata, Moon. "Kumbuk,'' S. — A majestic 

 tree, from Belligam northwrrds to Jaffna, and from thence to Batticaloa, 

 as well as in the central parts of the island. Wood dark- coloured, very 

 hard, heavy and strong, inch bars bearing 430 to 450 lbs. ; used in house 

 building, for boats, canoes, &c. 



Mblastomaceje. 

 Memecylon capitellatum, Linn., " Welli-kaha," S., and M, umbellatum 

 Burm, " Kora-kaha," S. — Wood small but very tough, and in great re- 

 quest as switches by bullock-drivers, hence the' origin of the Tamil 

 " Suatche." 



