June 1, 1864.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



THE TIMBER TREES OF CEYLON. 493 



Pallnga zeylanica, Thw. " Palinga-gas," S. — A large tree ; timber 

 not known. 



Putranjiva Roxburghii, Wall. " Curoopallyrnaram," T. — In the 

 hot, drier parts of Ceylon. Roxburgh describes it as a large timber tree, 

 with erect, straight trunk and white close-grained hard wood. It belongs 

 to the same section as the boxwood. 



Aporosa Lindleyana, Thw. " Kaebilla," S. — A common tree, and 

 wood used for house-building. 



A. latifolia, Thw. . " Ma-pat-kabella," or " Pipiliya." — Also a useful 

 timber tree. 



Antidesme^e. 



Antidesma Bunius, Spr. " Karawilla-Kabilla," S. — Timber used for 

 ordinary purposes. 



Allied to Euphorbiaceje. 



Sarcococa pruniformis, Lind. — Central Provin ce, at an elevation of 

 4,000 to 5,000 feet. This, though of small diameter, has a wood so like 

 box, that it is called the Neilgherry boxwood. 



BALANOPHORE.E. 



Balanophora Indica, Wall. — In forests of Central Province, at 3,000 

 to 4,000 feet. This species produces the great knots on the maple-roots, 

 from which the Thibetans form the cups mentioned by Messrs. Hue and 

 Gabet. 



Casuarinace^e, or Beefwood. 



Casuarina equisetifolia, Forst. " Kasagha," S. ; " Chowk-maram," 

 T. — The Tinian pine is now a common, naturalized tree in Ceylon. The 

 timber is of a reddish colour, bears a great strain, is well adapted lor 

 posts, and is said to bear submersion in water very well. 



Palmace^e. 



Caryota urens, Linn. " Kitul-gaha," S., the tree, " Niepera," S., 

 often for its wood " Ootaly-panna," T. — Common, up to 3,000 feet. The 

 hard dark-coloured wood of old trees is so like that of the Palmyra 

 palm, that it is difficult to distinguish them without the use of a lens. 

 Its wood is used for rafters, window-bars, handles of agricultural imple- 

 ments, pestles for paddy pounders, and is exceedingly hard and durable 

 when old. Its trunk, hollowed out, is uuiversally used for conduits and 

 water-buckets in irrigation in Canara. 



Areca Catechu, Linn. " Pawak-gaha," S., " Kannegu," or « Pawk 

 maram," T. — One of the most graceful of all the Palm trees; veiy common, 

 up to 3,000 feet, but not truly wild in Ceylon. A most useful tree for 

 the erection of temporary buildings, &c. The wood being at once 

 straight, firm, and elastic, is employed for making the pingoes (yokes 

 for the shoulders) by means of which the Singhalese coolie, like the 



