June 1, 1864.1 THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



THE TIMBER TREES OP CEYLON. 491 



Urostigma religiosum, Gasp. — The famous "Bo-gaha," S., and U. 

 Benghalense, Gasp., the equally famous " Ma-rengah," S., or Banyan-tree, 

 are too well known to need description. Thwaites has nine other 

 species of this genus down as indigenous to Ceylon, several of which are 

 included as timher trees in Wright's list ; hut they are all of a light, soft, 

 and spongy nature, and not strong timber. Some of these are the giants 

 of the forests, encircling other species from the root to a height often of 

 60 to 80 feet, sometimes left standing after the confined tree has 

 decayed away. They facilitate much the felling of the trees on the forest 

 land for coffee estates, as they often clasp so many trees, that, after 

 half-cutting through the trunks of the surrounding trees, one or two 

 acres of the forest are levelled at once by felling one large tree of these. 



One species of Poguotrophe, six of Ficus, and two of Covellia, all of 

 this tribe, indigenous to the island, and which, with the above, were 

 formerly included in the genus Ficus, bear fruits like figs, and the timber 

 of them has much the same character. 



Tribe Celtid^e. 



Ulmus integrifolia, Roxb. " Dada-hirilla," S.; "Kanchy,"T. — A fine 

 large tree, in the hot, dry parts of the island. The timber, like that of 

 its English congener, is used for various purposes recpuring toughness 

 and strength. 



Celtis dysodoxylon, Thw. " Gooraenda" and " Urene," S.; " Poodaca- 

 rapan Puttay " (its bark), T. — A middle-sized tree, in the Central 

 Province, up to 5,000 feet. The freshly-cut wood has the most abomin- 

 able and disgusting odour of all plants in the vegetable kingdom. 



C. Wightii, Planch. — A small tree in the hot, drier parts of the 

 island. One of the hardest woods I have ever met with, light-coloured ; 

 well worthy of attention. 



Sponia orientalis, Planch. " Gae-dumba," S. (Indian Nettle-tree.) — 

 A small tree, common, from the coast up to 3,000 feet, and is one of the 

 trees which mysteriously spring up after forests have been felled and 

 burnt, and in which they did not formerly exist. The wood is soft and 

 light, and used for ordinary purposes. It makes one of the best char- 

 coals for gunpowder. Every part of the tree is used in medicine or the 

 arts. 



Gironniera subcequilis, Planch. — A moderate-sized tree, not uncommon 

 in the Central Province, up to 4,000 feet. 



G. reticulata, Thw.— A tree aboiit 40 feet high, found in Badulla, 

 and up to 3,000 feet. Both these are likely to produce useful timber. 



EuPHORBIACEjE. 



Euphorbia Tirucalli, Linn. " Gas-nawahandi," S.; "Tirucalli," T. — 

 A'common fence plant at Jaffna. Wood light-coloured, well adapted for 

 gun-stocks when procured of sufficient size. 



Exccecaria Agallocha, Linn. " Tella-keeriya," S. — A small tree 



