we 



Selections. 



[NO. 4, NEWSERlliS, 



brown. Calyx minute, with live shallow lobes, persistent. Petals 

 live, concave, firm in texture, with minute pale glandular dots on 

 the inner surface, twisted in estivation. Stamens five, alternate 

 with the petals, inserted into depressions of the dark green angular 

 disc. Ovary three-celled each cell with four ascending anatro- 

 pal ovules. Style short. Stigma capitate, somewhat three-lobcd. 

 Capsule M inches long, oblong, bluntly triangular, thrcc-valvcd, 

 three celled. Seeds imbricated, winged, erect, cxalbuminous. Winy 

 very broad, oblong, truncate or blunt. Embryo orthotropal \ coty- 

 ledons Hat. 



In habit and general a} pcavance this plant resembles the Cclas- 

 travrcc, though it would seem to differ almost as much from mem- 

 bers of that natural family as do the Ilijyocrafcacea, from all the 

 genera of which latter Order it differs in having five stamens. 



The yellow bark is sold in the bazaars, and when pounded is 

 used by the Cinghalese as a kind of cephalic snuff, being mixed 

 with Miee and introduced into the nostrils in order to relieve severe 

 headache, by encouraging a copious secretion from the nose. 



The native name of the tree is Kokoon, which has suggested the 

 generic name. 



Plate V. Fig. 1. Flower. 2. Stamen. 3. Ovary and disc cut 

 longitudinally. 4. Transverse section of the same. 5. Small, imma- 

 ture capsule. 6. Transverse section of the same. 7. 8. Seeds. 9. 

 Branch and stipules : — all but Jig, 5 and 6 magnified, — Kew Mined. 

 Vol, V. p, 378. 



Aslia Sugar Factory, 



My visit to Aska has enabled me to gain much information 

 regarding the manufacture of sugar, while my tour through the 

 country has admitted of my following up an enquiry I begun in 

 Ilajahmundry as to the profits from its cultivation. The result of 

 my observations is a conviction that it is, to the interest of Govern- 

 ment to encourage the growth of this article to the utmost, and if 

 that is done I am confident that it will become the great crop of 



