JULT, 1908.3 



33 



Edible Products. 



LIST OF JUNGLE PRODUCTS USED 

 BY THE POOR DURING THE 

 FAMINE, 1896-7. 



By T. E. D. Innes, 

 Agent, Balrampur Estate. 

 {Continued from page 5^8.) 



33. Kumbi {Carey a arborea, Roxb., 

 Nat. Orel Myrtaceoe). — A large jungle 

 tree found in the sub-montane forest. 

 The bark or outside of the root is 

 removed, pounded, and ground and used 

 as flour to make bread. [The patana oak 

 of Cey Ion.] 



34. Agai {Dillenia pentagyna, Roxb., 

 Nat. Ord. Dilleniacoe).—A tree with very 

 large leaves found in the jungle. The 

 flower ai-d fruit are both eaten, but are 

 rather sour. It flowers in March and 

 fruits in April. [Other Dillenias in 

 Ceylon.] 



35. Khurhur {Ficus Uunia, Ham., 

 Nat. Ord. Urticaceoe).— A big tree found 

 in sub-montane forests. The fruit when 

 ripe is eaten uncooked and is rather 

 sweet. The fruit springs seemingly from 

 the roots of the tree, and is not produced 

 on the branches. Fruit ripens about 

 July. It is considered most edible, and 

 is much sought after by bears. [Other 

 Ficuses (banyans) in Ceylon.] 



36. Mahua {Bassia LatifoLia, Roxb., 

 Nat. Ord. Sapotaceoe). — A very common 

 tree found in the jungle and is also culti- 

 vated. The flower is parched, and also 

 ground and eaten. The fruit is eaten 

 cooked and uncooked, and oil is made 

 from the seeds. A most useful tree and 

 great food producer. Flowers and fruits 

 in March and April. [B. longifolia (Mi or 

 Iluppai) in Ceylon. Flowers dried and 

 eaten.] 



37. Kadam.— (This is probably Antho- 

 cephalus Cadamba,Bentb. and Hook., 

 Nat. Ord. Rubiaceoe. — Hon. Ed). — A 

 jungle tree which is also cultivated. 

 The fruit which ripens about September 

 and October is eaten uncooked; rather 

 sharp to the taste- 



38. Peorowa or Piar {Buchanania 

 LatifoLia, Roxb., Nat., Ord. Anacardi- 

 aceoe. — A lar^e jungle tree. The fruit is 

 eaten when ripe and is sweet to the taste. 

 The kernel of the stone is also eaten. 

 Fruit ripens about June and July. [£?. 

 augufttifulia in Ceylon.] 



39. Jangli Jamun {.Eugenia jambo- 

 lana, Lunik. , Nat. Ord. A/yrtaceoe.) — 

 A very common jungle tree, grows on 

 damp ground, and produces a kind of 

 plum which is much sought after and 



eaten when ripe. Ripens about July and 

 August. [Common in the low country 

 (Ma-dan or Naval). Fruit much eaten.] 



40. Pahnan.— This is Ougenia dalber- 

 gioides, Beutb., Nat. Ord. Leguminosoe. 

 —Hon. Ed).— A jangle tree. The flower 

 is gathered and boiled and eaten. The 

 fruit is not eatable. Tree flowers in 

 March. Much sought after and con- 

 sidered most edible. 



41. Umhar {Ficus glomerala, Roxb., 

 Nat. Ord, Urticeoe. Vide No. 21.— Hon. 

 Ed). — A forest tree found in the sub- 

 montane forest. The flowers and fruit 

 both ripe and unripe are eaten either 

 cooked or uncooked. Much sought after 

 and considered most edible and some- 

 times cultivated. [Common in the low- 

 country (Attika or Atti), but Trimen 

 remarks that the fruit is scarcely edible.] 



42. Sahinjan {Moringa pterygosper- 

 ma, Goertn., Nat. Ord. Moringeoe). — A 

 forest tree. When very small the root 

 is eaten like a radish. When the tree is 

 big the flower and unripe fruit are boiled 

 and eaten. Considered most edible. 

 Flowers and fruits about March and 

 April. [Much cultivated (Muruuga or 

 horse-radish tree).] 



43. .Kuchnar {Bauhinia variegata, L., 

 Nat. Ord. Legu7ninosoe).—A forest tree, 

 and is also cultivated. The buds are 

 boiled and eaten as a vegetable. Con- 

 sidered most edible. Flowers in March. 

 [Other Bauhinias in Ceylon (Petau, 

 Mayila).] 



44. Phalsha {Gretuia sp., Nat. Ord. 

 Tiliaceoe,) A forest tree and is also 

 cultivated. The fruit is eaten when 

 ripe and unripe, uncooked. Considered 

 most edible, and much sought after. 

 Fruits in May and June. The root is 

 used medicinally. [Many Grevias in 

 Ceylon (Damiriya, Keliya, Tavidai, 

 Achchu, &c) : fruit eaten.] 



45. Kusm {Schleicheratrijuga, Wild., 

 Nat. Ord. Sapindaceoe).—A big forest 

 tree. The fruit is eaten Avhen ripe, un- 

 cooked. Fruits in June. Considered 

 most edible, and much sought after- 

 Fruits best in sub-montane forest. [Kon 

 or Ceylon oak.] 



46. Mango {Mangiferainclica, L.,Nat. 

 Ord. A nacardiaceoe).— Besides the ordin- 

 ary fruit, the poor collect the stoues, 

 and boil or roast the kernels, which they 

 also make into bread. Considered most 

 edible. [Mango.] 



47. Kytha {Feronia Flephantum, 

 Correa., Nat. Ord. Rulaceoe).—A forest 

 tree which is also cultivated. The fruit 

 is eaten ripe and unripe, cooked and un- 

 cooked. Fruits in June, but edible from 



