Miscellaneous. 



572 



[June 1908. 



Cassia multijuga (Many-yoked). — A slen- 

 der quick-growing tree of Tropical America, 

 introduced to Peradeniya in 1851. Remark- 

 ably beautiful when in full flower during 

 August and September, being pra ctically 

 smothered with very large racemes of bright 

 yellow flowers, suggesting a magnified 

 Calceolaria. The tree luxuriat es in the moist 

 climate of Peradeniya , but does not produce 

 seed here. At Anur adhapura, however, in 

 the drier region, it be ars fruit. 



Cassia nodosa (knotted, referring to the 

 knotted stems). — A moderate-sized tree, 

 native of Eastern Bengal and Malaya, very 

 beautiful when bearing its profusion of bright 

 pink and rose-scented fl owers, during April 

 and May. The flowers are followed by cylin- 

 drical pods, 12 to 15 inches long. The tree 

 is deciduous in the dry weather. 



(Jochlospermum gossypium (Bixaceae). — 

 "Kinihiriya" or " Bla-imbul," S., "Kongu," 

 T. A rather small tree, native of Central 

 India. It has become semi-naturalised in 

 dry districts in Ceylon, and is often 

 found planted near Buddhist Temples. A 

 beautiful tree when in blossom, during 

 February or March, with its large bright 

 yellow flowers, which are esteemed as tem- 

 ple offerings. The tree is deciduous in the 

 dry weather ; thrives in either dry or moder- 

 ately wet districts below 2,000 feet. 



Colvillea racemosa (Leguminosae) — 

 named in honour of Sir Charles Colville when 

 Governor of Mauritius. A medium-sized tree 

 (30 to 40 feet high) with handsome pinnate 

 leaves, native of Mauritius and Madagascar. 

 It bears in September large, erect close ra- 

 cemes of bright scarlet flowers, presenting a 

 very showy appearance. Suited to the 

 moist or moderately dry low-country. 



Gliricidia maculata (Leguminosae).— 

 "Madi-e." A small quick-growing elegant 

 tree introduced from the West Indies about 

 1889. It bears long arching feathery leafy 

 branches, which in the dry weather drop 

 nearly all their leaves and produce along the 

 greater part of their length masses of pinkish 

 purple flowers, making the tree a striking- 

 object for a time. It thrives up to 2,000 feet, 

 and may be seen flourishing in the Victoria 

 Park and elsewhere about Colombo. Its 

 quick growth and light feathery habit recom- 

 mend it as an excellent shade and green 

 manure tree. It belongs to the nitrogenous 

 class of Leguminosae ; also forms good sup- 

 port for vanilla vines. The introduction of 

 this into Ceylon was effected by Mr. C. Drie- 

 berg when Superintendent of the Agricul- 

 tural School. 



Jacaranda minosatfolia (Bignoniaceae) — 

 A very elegent tree both on account of its 

 leaves and flowers. It reaches a height of 40 

 to 50 feet, and bears a profusion of blue bell- 

 shaped flowers all along the older wood of 

 the branches. Flowering seasons, February to 



May, and August to September. The elegant 

 bi-pinnate mimosa-like leaves make the tree 

 well worth growing as small foliage plants 

 for pots in verandahs. 



Kleinhovia hospita (Sterculiaceae). — A 

 large handsome Malayan tree, introduced to 

 Ceylon about 1820 ; it bears large terminal 

 panicles of pink or rose-coloured flowers, 

 which appear during July and August. 

 Thrives in the moist low-country. 



Lagerstr&mia flos-reginre (Lythraceae). — 

 "Pride of India"; "Murutu,"S. A tree of 

 extraordinary beauty, about 50 to 60 feet in 

 height, native of Ceylon, India, and Malaya. 

 It is undoubtedly one of the most strikingly 

 showy of flowering trees. It is deciduous 

 for a short time in the dry weather, but 

 from April to July or later it bears from the 

 ends of the branches huge panicles of large 

 mauve or pink flowers. There are two or 

 more varieties, with the flowers varying 

 from shades of mauve to a lovely bright pink. 



Lagerstroemia tomentosa (Lythraceae). — 

 A moderate-sized handsome tree, native of 

 hot and moist parts of Burma, introduced at 

 Peradeniya in 1891. It blossoms twice a 

 year, April and October, bearing large erect 

 panicles of lovely white flowers, produced 

 from the end of every branch. A very orna- 

 mental tree when in blossom. 



Lysidice rhodestegia (Leguminosae). — A 

 large handsome tree, native of Southern 

 China, introduced at Peradeniya in 1882. It 

 thrives here and bears from December to 

 February masses of pink or rose-coloured 

 inflorescence, produced at the extremities 

 of the branches. The persistent coloured 

 calyces render the tree very showy for 

 several weeks. A handsome tree when in 

 flower. 



Mesua ferra (Guttiferae) — "Iron-wood"; 

 "Na-gaha," S., "Naka," T. — A moderate- 

 sized, broadly conical, slow-growing tree, 

 native of the hot and moist regions in 

 Ceylon, India and Malaya. A very hand 

 some tree, much in favour, for planting near 

 Buddhist temples. It blossoms profusely in 

 the months of April or May, the large white 

 flowers with yellow stamens, being delicately 

 scented. The young leaves, which appear 

 twice a year, are of an intense blood-red 

 colour, passing through delicate shades of 

 pink into the dark green of the adult growth. 



Milling tonia hortensis (Bignoniacese). — 

 "Indian Cork-tree." An erect tree with 

 deep-green finely divided foliage, reaching a 

 height of fifty feet or more ; bears in Novem- 

 ber and June a profusion of long, pure white, 

 fragrant flowers. The tree is a favourite in 

 Indian gardens ; thrives up to 2,000 feet in 

 Ceylon. 



Oncoba spinosa (Bixaceae). — A small bushy 

 tree of Arabia, with light green, small ovate 

 leaves. It bears in April from the underside 



