200 



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



Fruits rather large, enclosed in very thick woody cupule or 

 enlarged calyx. Hard, often with marked depression round 

 apex. 



Wood pale yellowish, with — in large trees— a small black 

 heartwood like Ebony. 



In much favour for mine posts. Common in all the wet 

 forests of both Provinces below 2,500 feet, and often in 

 chenas. 



[Kottowa, near Galle.] 



STYRACE/E. 



This Order contains but one Genus in Ceylon — Symplocos 

 — most of which are small trees or shrubs. Seventeen out 

 of nineteen of this Genera are endemic, while all belong to 

 the wet forests. 



199.— Symplocos spicata. 

 Bombu, S. @>©J§. 

 Trim. Cey. Flor., vol. III., p. 104. 



A small tree with pale gray thin bark, smooth, with 

 conspicuous leaf -scars. 



Leaves alternate, four to six inches, oval-lanceolate, taper- 

 ing to apex at base, slightly serrate, smooth glossy green 

 above, with rather stout grooved stalk and pellucid veins. 



Flowers white, in loose branched panicles ; very common 

 in all the wet forests up to very high altitudes, often locally 

 extra abundant, as for example near Balangoda and at 

 Bibiligama. 



Wood pale yellowish-white, soft, easily worked, suitable 

 for picture frames ; light. This plant has the credit of being 

 destructive to tea, but the evidence on the point is 

 inconclusive. 



200.-— Symplocos coronata. 

 Ugudu-hal, S. G^®^ 

 Trim. Cey. Flor., vol. III., p. 111. 



