THE TECHNOLOGIST. [June 1, 1864. 



494 THE TIMBER TREES OF CEYLON. 



corresponding class among the ancient Egyptians, carries his "bur- 

 dens, &c. 



A. globulifera, Lam. ; Seaforthia oryzoeformis, Mart. — The " Eata 

 (foreign) Puwak," S., is a native of the Eastern islands, but is common 

 in Ceylon. 



A. Dicksonii, Roxb. ; Seaforthia Dicksonii, Mart. " Lensetari-puwak," 

 S. — This is a small and graceful tree, met with in the Western and 

 Southern Provinces. 



A. horrida, Griffith ; Caryota horrida. " Kattu-kitul," S. — A common 

 palm in forests, from 2,000 to 3,000 feet ; gregarious, armed with long 

 spines, taller than the Areca, and more liable to branch than any of the 

 Ceylon palms. I have often eaten the centre bud of this tree, when 

 compelled to fell it in opening boundaries ; it is equal to that from the 

 cocoa-nut or kitul. 



Macrocladus sylvicola, Griffith ; Caryota mitis, (?) Moon. — A handsome 

 gregarious palm ; found in the Western, Central, and Southern Pro- 

 vinces, up to 3,000 feet. It is most likely a species of Areca. 



Cocos nucifera, Liun. " Polgaha," S.; " Tennani-niaruin," T. — Avery 

 common tree on the sea-coast of Ceylon ; supposed to be a native of 

 South America. I question if a truly wild cocoa-nut has ever been seen 

 in Asia, although the Sanscrit writers refer to it. Its cultivation in 

 Ceylon is most extensive. Its wood is almost too well known to require 

 description. It is used for sleepers and various purposes, but is inferior 

 to that of the Palmyra. Very handsome desks, &c, are made of this 

 wood at Galle and elsewhere in Ceylon. 



Borassus flabelliformis, Lirni. " Tal-gaha," S.; " Panei-marum," T. — 

 A most common aud useful tree, found in the north of the island and 

 in Southern India. Its timber is used very generally for rafters and 

 reepers, and is also largely exported to different parts of India for these. 

 A paper on this wood, for the construction of bridges, by Mr. Byrne, of 

 the Civil Engineers, was lately read at the Institution of Civil Engineers, 

 London. 



Corypha umbraculifera, Linn. " Tala-gaha," S.; " Conda-pana," T. — 

 The well-known Talipot palm, common in Ceylon ; flowers once and 

 then dies. 



Calamus Rotang, Linn. " Heen-we-wael," S. — A common plant in 

 Ceylon ; its uses are well known. There are three or four other species 

 indigenous to Ceylon — one is said to grow sometimes to a length of 500 

 to 600 feet. 



GRAMINACEiE. 



Bambusa arundinacea, Willd. ; B. spinosa, Roxb. " Unalee," S.; 

 c* Mungil," T. — These are the common yellow, green, and spiny 

 bamboo, found on the banks of rivers and elsewhere ; common in 

 Ceylon. The stems of this gigantic grass, for it is nothing else, are 

 applied to more uses, perhaps, than any other plant of the vegetable 

 kingdom. 



