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



217 



Very common in wet places in both Provinces up to 1,500 

 feet, and often found by swamps and abandoned paddy fields. 



The wood is grayish, rather close-grained, and takes a good 

 polish. Weight, about 40 lb. per cubic foot. In much 

 demand for tea boxes, mine planks, &c, but is not durable. 

 The Andaman species affords a handsome heavy wood. 



LAURACE4E. 



This large Order, which includes our well-known Cinna- 

 mon, is represented by ten Genera : Cryptocarya, Beilsch- 

 miedia, Cinnamomum, Machiius,Alseodaphne, Actinodaphne, 

 Litsea, Lindera, Cassytha, and Hernandia. 



A very troublesome Order to distinguish species by, owing 

 to the specific differences being sometimes only microscopic 

 in the flower. 



225. — Cryptocarya membranacea. 

 Gal-mora, S. gd<^®©3<5. 

 Trim. Cey. Flor., vol. III., p. 439. 



A moderate-sized tree, with dull red-brown bark and 

 slender stem. Leaves about four to five inches by two 

 inches, oblong, tapering to extremities, somewhat recurved 

 margin, strongly six-veined, with conspicuous intermediate 

 venation. 



Flowers small,' in axillary panicles, few; fruits ovoid, 

 purplish when ripe. 



Fairly common up to 2,000 feet. Occurs near Weke in the 

 Western Province, and near Rakwana, Balangoda, and 

 Bambarabotuwa. 



The wood is a pale straw-yellow colour, close-grained, 

 suitable for picture framing. The flowers are offensive in 

 smell. 



[Moist low-country to 2,000 feet ; rare.] 



L 21-02 



