204 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVI L 



205. — Taberncemontana dichotoma (Eve's Apple)„ 

 Divi-kaduru, S. ^© ®gd«. 

 Trim. Cey, Flor., vol. III., p. 132. 



A small tree with grayish bark and very milky twigs* 

 Leaves large, about six to eight inches, opposite, ovate-oblong, 

 tapering at base, stiff, with strong lateral veins, conspicuous 

 below, attached to stout midrib. Leaf -stalk thick, about an 

 inch long. Whole leaf dark green above, milky when 

 broken across. 



Flowers large, handsome, white with yellowish throat, 

 usually in axils of terminal leaves and arranged in long 

 cymes. 



Common in the wet forests of both Provinces, but rather 

 more abundant in the Ratnapura District up to Balangoda 

 (1,500 feet). Conspicuous by its curious pendulous double- 

 crescent shaped orange-coloured fruits. 



The wood is pale white, rather close-grained, easily worked^ 

 and is used for making devil-dancers' masks, as it is easily 

 carved. The bark is used in medicine. 



'206. — Alstonia scholaris. 



Ruk-attana, S. djgsf^cstac^ ; Iliyappalai, T. ^jsQiuuufr^ . 

 Trim. Cey. Flor., vol. III., p. 133. 



A large erect tree with pale gray rather rough bark. 

 Leaves in clusters (whorles) at ends of branches, about six 

 inches long, oblong,tapering to base, rounded at apex, smooth, 

 dark glossy green above, paler below, with a whitish dust- 

 like coating. 



Leaf -stalk short, with a conspicuous "hooked fleshy 

 process on the upper surface at the base." 



Flowers pale greenish-white, in small clustering cymes. 

 Seeds in long tapering slender follicles. 



Very common in both Provinces up to about 4,000 feet, 

 but chiefly in the wet and intermediate zones. 



