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



Flowers very conspicuous, large, with long pink filaments. 

 Fruits large, rather like a green mangosteen, smooth, and: 

 crowned with persistent calyx. 



A very common tree, especially in patanas and open land 

 up to 3,000 feet. 



Occurs in both Provinces, but perhaps attains its largest 

 size near Arandara, in the Kegalla District. 



Wood dull reddish-brown in the centre, paling towards 

 the bark, mottled, close, hard, durable. Weight, about 50 lb. 

 per cubic foot. 



Suitable for beams, house-building, bridge planking, or 

 piles. The bark is rich in tanning, and is used in medicine 

 for its astringent properties, and often applied in hoof 

 diseases in cattle. 



Unfortunately the tree rarely attains a large size, or it 

 would be much in favour as a cabinet wood. 



M E L A STO M AG E/E . 



This Order, which is largely represented by endemic 

 species, is mostly composed of small trees, shrubs, and herbs t 

 and is composed of six Genera, viz., Osbeckia, Melastoma, 

 Kendrickia, Sonerila, Medinilla, and Memecylon.* 



167. — Memecylon Arnottianum. 



Pinibaru, S. SsSSdi. 



Trim. Cey. Flor., vol. II., p. 211. 



A small stout bush with thin pale ashy-brown bark. 

 Leaves opposite, small, broadly ovate, strongly three-nerved,, 

 on very short stalks. Flowers small, solitary or in twos, 

 with slender axillary stalks. Fruits like indigo-black peas. 



* I feel some doubt respecting- the correct identification of species 

 recorded, as this Genera appears to be somewhat involved and imperfectly 

 described. 



