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



almost absent. Flowers large, pale violet within, greenish 

 outside. Fruits conspicuous, about four inches, rather 

 crumpled, and containing a beautiful floss-like hair attached 

 to the seeds. 



Very common in waste ground in both Provinces, but 

 more so in the intermediate zone. Found abundantly from 

 Balangoda to Pelmadulla, and again between Pallevela and 

 Wellawa in the Atakalan Korale. 



The root-bark is used as a tonic, and the milk is given in 

 leprosy. Affords a magnificent fibre, worthy of more con- 

 sideration than it receives. 



The wood supplies a very fine charcoal. 



Besides the foregoing two better-known species, the Order 

 contains twenty more Genera, viz., Cryptolepis, Secamone, 

 Toxocarpus, Oxystelma, Pentatropis, Dsemia, Holostemma, 

 Cynanchum, Sarcostemma, Gymnema, Marsdenia, Tylophora, 

 Cosmostigma, Dregea, Dischiclia, Hoya, Heterostemma* 

 Leptadenia, Ceropegia, and Caralluma. 



LOG AN I ACE/E. 



The Order is represented by four Genera in Ceylon : Mitra- 

 sacme, Fagraea, Strychnos, and Gaertnera. 



209. — Strychnos Nux-vomica. 

 Goda-kaduru, S. ©©jeDesgdi ; Kafichurai, T. ^fr^^swir. 

 Trim. Cey. Flor., vol. III., p. 175. 



A small erect tree, with rather large head, pale brownish- 

 yellow bark, smooth. 



Leaves opposite, about four inches long, broadly ovate, 

 rounded at base, distinctly five-nerved, smooth, thin, with fine 

 reticulate veining. Leaf -stalk about half an inch. Flowers 

 pale greenish-white. Fruits about one and a half inch in 

 diameter, orange-red, containing circular button-like seeds 

 of a silvery -gray colour. 



