June 1908.] 



573 



Miscellaneous, 



of the young branches large single white 

 flowers with yellow stamens, very delicately 

 scented and suggesting in appearance wild 

 dog-roses of a large size. Introduced at 

 Peradeniya in 1883. It has not yet set fruit. 



Peltophorum ferrugineum (Legumin- 

 osae). — " Iya-vaki," T. — A very large quick- 

 growing, symmetrical tree, with a spreading 

 top and very graceful fine foliage, indi- 

 genous to Ceylon and Malaya. The young 

 leaves and shoots are covered with a brown 

 velvet tomentum, from which the tree takes 

 its specific name. It flowers twice a year, 

 but during different months, being remark- 

 able for the fact that Avhen one tree is in 

 flower, another (of the same kind) side by 

 side may be in fruit, another may be deci- 

 duous ; the flowers are rusty yellow, sweet- 

 scented, and borne in large erect panicles. 

 Dr. Trimen states: — "It is a magnificent 

 sight when in full blossom." It is suited 

 to the dry region, but also thrives to per- 

 fection in the moist region up to 1,800 feet 

 elevation. 



Plumeria acutifolia (Apocynacea?). — 

 "Temple tree"; "Pagoda tree"; sometimes 

 called " Frangi-pani." "Everiya" or " Ara- 

 liya," S. — A low, spreading, succulent tree 

 or shrub, introduced from Tropical America 

 and now naturalised in Ceylon, India, &c. 

 It is a familiar tree in the Eastern tropics 

 at low elevations, and in the low-country of 

 Ceylon generally, especially near temples. 

 It is bare of leaves throughout the dry 

 weather, when it bears lai'ge corymbs of 

 white and highly fragrant flowers. 



Plumeria rubra (Red). — A tree similar to 

 the latter, but of a less spreading habit, 

 bearing bright crimson flowers. Very showy. 



Poinciana regia (Leguminosa?). — "Flam- 

 boyante"; "Flame tree"; "Gold Mohur."— A 

 gorgeous tree Avhen in full flower, bearing 

 during the months of March to May im- 

 mense panicles of scarlet or orange and 

 yellow flowers. It is a very striking object 

 in and about Colombo at this time of year. 

 The tree grows from 50 to 60 feet in height, 

 aad has handsome fine feathery leaves. 



Pusoqueria longiflora (Rubiaceee).— A 

 moderate-sized, quick growing tree, with 

 large deep-green leaves, native of Tropical 

 America. It produces long tubular white 

 and sweet-scented flowers, borne in pen- 

 dulous clusters, during May and September, 

 Suited to moist districts up to 2,000 feet. 



Pterocarpus echinatus (Leguminosa?).— A 

 moderate-sized spreading tree, native of the 

 Philippines, introduced at Peradeniya in 

 1882 ; bears large racemes of pale yellow 

 flowers at the ends of the branches during 

 April and May. Very 1 ornamental when in 

 blossom. Suited to the low-country. 



Saraca declinata (Leguminosse). — A small 

 trcCi native of Sumatra, introduced at 



Peradeniya in 1870. It forms a beautiful 

 sight when bearing its huge heads of bright 

 orange yellow flowers, produced on the stems 

 and older branches during February and 

 March. Thrives best in partial shade in the 

 moist low-country. 



Saraca indica (Indian). — ' ' Diya-ratmal ' ' 

 or " Diya-ratambala," S. " Asoca Britsch," 

 Hind. — A small spreading tree, native of 

 Ceylon and South India. On the stems and 

 branches are produced in January to March 

 large sessile clusters of sweet-scented flowers, 

 which change from yellow to orange and red. 

 The young leaves are pendulous as in 

 Brownea and Amherstia. Thrives in shady 

 situations, especially near water, in the wet 

 or semi-dry districts below 1,800 feet. 



Schizolobium excelsum (Leguminosa?). — 

 A very large quick-growing tree, with fine 

 bi-pinnate feathery leaves, native of Brazil. 

 Introduced in 1872 at Peradeniya, whei'e it 

 luxuriates, blossoming and producing fruits 

 regularly. The flowers are borne in enor- 

 mous erect racemes, of a bright yellow 

 colour, during February and March, when 

 the tree is quite bare of leaves. The flowers 

 are at once followed by beautiful feathery 

 young foliage. Thrives up to 1,500 feet in 

 the moist region. 



Solanium macranthum (Solanaceae). — 

 "Potato tree." A medium-sized, quick- 

 growing and soft-wooded tree of Brazil, 

 reaching a height of 30 to 50 feet, introduced 

 to Ceylon in 1814. It is a handsome object 

 on account of its very large and rather spiny 

 leaves, but is particularly ornamental when 

 in full blossom. The large blue and white 

 flowers, with conspicuous yellow anthers, 

 are produced at most seasons of the year, 

 but more especially after the dry weather. 

 Thrives best in particularly shaded situations 

 at elevations below 3,000 feet. This is the 

 only species of the potato order that grows 

 into a tree form. 



Spaihodea campanulala (Bignoniaceae). — 

 A tall erect tree from Western Tropical 

 Africa, introduced into Ceylon in 1873, and 

 now fairly commonly planted about Kandy 

 and elsewhere as an ornamental shade tree. 

 Its lai'ge bright orange-red, erect flowers, 

 produced at the tips of the branches through- 

 out the wet season, render it strikingly hand- 

 some and conspicuous at a distance. The 

 unexpanded flowers contain a quantity of 

 water, hence the tree has been christened the 

 "Fountain-tree," Thrives up to 1,000 feet* 



Sterculia colorata (Sterculiacese). — " Ma- 

 larparutti," T. — A moderate-sized tree of 

 10 to 50 feet in height, indigenous to the dry 

 region of Ceylon but thrives also in the moist 

 districts. The brilliant orange scarlet 

 flowers, appearing in great profusion when 

 the tree is leafless (February to March at 

 Peradeniya^ render the tree a handsome an<^ 



