NO. 53. — 1902.] TREES AND FLOWERING PLANTS. 105 



The wood is often used for planking for plumbago mines, 

 and sometimes for tea boxes, but is not durable. 



An oil used in skin diseases is extracted by the natives from 

 the seeds, which are very bitter, hence the name Titta-eta. 



The leaves of young plants of this species are palmate or 

 deeply lobed. 



[Alagalla, Hunasgiriya, Kottawa.] 



20. — Hydnocarpus venenata. 



Makulu, S. ®z%£> ; Makal, T. L&ir&ev. 

 Trim. Cey. Flor., vol. I., p. 75, 



A very common water-loving plant, easily distinguished 

 by its pale and very fluted stem and long lanceolate leaves. 



It occurs in both wet and dry zones, and generally by the 

 sides of rivers and streams up to 2,500 feet. 



The wood is close, hard, and dense, but owing to the deep 

 flutings of the stem is not much used. Weight, 48 lb. per 

 cubic foot. 



The seeds are highly poisonous, and are made use of to 

 poison, or rather to intoxicate, fish, so that they may be 

 easily caught. An oil extracted from the seed is said to be 

 of use in leprosy and skin diseases. 



During the season when " Makulu " fruits are abundant 

 there is considerable danger attending the consumption of 

 fish or prawns that have fed on the decayed seeds, as the 

 poison appears to be communicated to the flesh of the fish 

 that has swallowed it. In pools of water in the dry zone, 

 where quantities of these fruits have accumulated, all the 

 fish appear to have been killed, probably from this cause, 

 thus explaining the fact that such pools rarely poison any 

 large fish. 



[Kurunegala, Peradeniya, Eastern Province.] 

 [The well-known Annatto (Bixa Orellana)is an introduced 

 member of this Order, as is also the magnificent Ela-imbul 

 (Cochlospermum Gossypium), found near temples in the 

 dry zone, where it is used for flower offerings.] 



D 21-02 



