192 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVII. 



Affords an oil prized by the natives for its medicinal and 

 other qualities, and also a useful oil-cake. 



[Forests of dry region ; common. Usually (? always) 

 planted.] 



188.— Bassia neriifolia, 

 Gan-mi, S. eo°@. 



Trim. Cey. Flor., vol. III., p. 80, plate LIX, 



A conspicuously water-loving bush with dark hard bark 

 and very abundant twigs and short branches. Leaves long, 

 linear, tapering to very short stalk, smooth, rather glossy, 

 with rather inconspicuous veining. Flowers pale white, 

 sweet to the taste, in close clusters, hanging from ends of 

 branches by rather long tapering stalks. 



Very abundant along the banks of streams and rivers in 

 the wet parts of both Provinces. Attains rather a large size 

 on the Maguru-ganga and Kukulu-ganga streams. 



Wood pale dull red-brown, finely streaked, close, hard, and 

 durable, but not attaining a large size. Suitable for posts. 

 A very excellent fuel. Affords gutta, but in only minute 

 quantity. Weight, 47 lb. per cubic foot. 



189.— Bassia fulva. 



Wana-mi, S. 



Trim. Cey. Flor., vol. III., p. 81. 



A rather large tree with thick brownish bark. Leaves 

 broadly ovate, slightly tapering to base, shortly pointed, 

 thick, prominently veined below, smooth in mature leaves, 

 very densely tomentous in young leaves, and attached to 

 thick tomentous stalks. 



Flowers pale yellowish, in close clusters, growing from 

 knotty points in the axils of fallen leaves. Flower-stalks 

 about three times as long as leaf -stalks, tapering. 



Very scarce. Occurs in Bambarabotuwa. Trimen records 

 it from Hewissa in the Western Province. 



