jan. — mar, 1858.] the Travancore Backwater. 



207 



from the Valica Tumbagat'a, a tree which I know from speci- 

 mens before me, yields a dammer %esim of a beautiful light green 

 colour. Another resin similar to the Piney is yielded by the Cana- 

 rium strictum, a tree very plentiful at the base of these mountains 

 but which has hitherto attracted less notice than it deserves. All the 

 above trees belong to the natural families of Dipterocarps or Tere- 

 binths, both peculiar for yielding resin. Another handsome tree 

 with dark green foliage growing here is the Hebradendron gambo- 

 gioides. This and several Garcinias are common in these jungles. 

 A considerable quantity of Gamboge exudes spontaneously in 

 largish tears from the trunk, but the quantity procurable is much in- 

 creased by incision. The Natives eat the fruit of some of the Gar- 

 cinias with much relish. The Embryopteris glutinifera, or wild Man- 

 gosteen is here found. This tree is very like the Mangosteen in 

 appearance, and if introduced in gardens would be very ornamental. 

 The viscid juice which surrounds the seeds is used by carpenters as 

 a useful glue, but the fruit is quite uneatable. The Ailanthus Mala- 

 baricus is not uncommon. The resin which exudes from the bark 

 is known as Mu'ttee pal, and is said to be a sovereign remedy in 

 dysenteric affections. It has very balsamic properties. The Calo- 

 santhes Indica, Macaranga Indica and tomentosa are plentiful. 

 The glutinous fluid which flows from the petioles and branches 

 when broken off exudes from both the above species of Macaranga. 

 The large leaves of M. tomentosa are hoary beneath with a soft white 

 down, and are used in the bazars for wrapping spices, and similar 

 articles, for purchasers. Alstonia scholaris, Plumiera acuminata, 

 Odina Wodier and other large trees, are most deserving of men- 

 tion, while conspicuous among lesser shrubs, is Gloriosa snperba 

 with its bright orange and yellow flowers so curiously arranged 

 creeping from bush to bush, decidedly the most gorgeous of Indian 

 creepers. The root is said to be poisonous. The Memecylon 

 ample xicaule is a tropical shrub, which when its flowering stem of 

 deep blue florets is in full blossom, cannot be sufficiently admired. 

 The Musscenda frondosa with its white calycine leaf, contrasting so 

 strongly with its orange coloured petals, Tabemamonlana crispa, 



* For information as to the varieties of Dammer, scg Jury Report of Madras 

 Exhibition.— Ed, 



