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



Leaves long, with finely pointed spine-tipped leaflets. 



Very common throughout the low -country of both 

 Provinces up to 2,000 feet, but rarely in the dry zone, where 

 this species is replaced by P. pussilla, a much shorter- 

 stemmed plant. 



Affords a material for mat-making from the leaf. 



[Very common, especially on the southern coast], 



266. — Gorypha umbraculifera (Talipot Palm). 

 Tala, S. cd<3 ; Talapattu, T. #eiruu«i jp. 

 Trim. Cey. Flor., vol. IV., p. 328. 



A very large lofty palm, often attaining sixty feet of stem. 

 Readily distinguished by its huge fan-shaped leaves carried 

 on stout stalks, armed on their margins with short dark 

 spines. 



When in flower — unhappily the plant's last act in life 

 — this palm appears to terminate in a huge pyramid of pale 

 yellowish-white flowers, forming quite a feature in the 

 scenery. 



The wood is of little use, but it is for the sake of the leaf 

 that this plant is most prized. The leaves afford a most 

 excellent material for roofing, umbrellas, and as an inde- 

 structible paper, for which latter purpose it was used in 

 the earliest times by writers, the writing being effected with 

 a sharp style. To this day Chetties use ''Talipot olas" for 

 keeping accounts on. 



267.— Calamus zeylanicus. 



Maha-vevel, S. ; Pirambu, T. iSliru>cj. 



Trim. Cey. Flor., vol. IV., p. 335. 



A large thick-stemmed cane, often attaining a length of one 

 hundred feet, with long leaves, the stalks of which are closely 

 armed with recurved thorns, usually in threes. The young 

 canes, when closely clustered, present a most formidable 

 barrier, owing to the masses of spines on the leaf-stalks 

 and long tendrils. 



