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



187 



179. — Wendlandia Notoniana. 

 Wana-idala, S. 0«c§ 

 Trim. Cey. Flor., vol. II., p. 297. 



A rather small tree very much resembling Cinchona 

 officinalis, with dark red-brown furrowed freely -peeling bark 

 and short ascending branches. Leaves on rather long stalks, 

 moderately large, ovate-lanceolate, tapering to extremities, 

 finely pubescent below, conspicuously veined, and of a 

 fine purplish-pink when young. Flowers pale yellowish- 

 white, in rather large pyramidal terminal panicles. 



Very common in all the wet forests of both Provinces up 

 to 5,000 feet, often found in chenas and abandoned land. 



Wood red-brown, very hard, close, smooth, durable. 

 Weight, about 50 lb. per cubic foot. 



An excellent wood for posts and rafters, but rarely attains 

 a large size. Resists white ants well, and takes a fine polish. 



180. — Gardenia latifolia. 



Galis, S. <sgd. 



Trim. Cey. Flor., vol. II., p. 332. 



A small often bushy tree with thin smooth pale grayish 

 bark. 



Leaves usually in threes and crowded at the ends of twigs. 

 Leaf buds always enclosed in a yellowish resinous waxy 

 end or top. Leaves large, oval, tapering at base, stiff, bright 

 green above, glossy, with very strongly marked parallel 

 lateral veins. 



Flowers large, very handsome, solitary, often pure white, 

 fading to yellow and later to dull orange-yellow, very sweet- 

 scented. 



The wood is a very pale white, close, dense, even-grained, 

 hard, durable, and heavy ; weight, about 58 lb. per cubic foot ; 

 liable to crack. The timber is in much favour with the 

 natives for beds, as they, assert that it never harbours bugs ! 

 Yery suitable for scales, picture frames, or blind rods. 



Common in the Kalutara District. 



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