THE MAGAZINE 
OF 
THE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE, 
COLOMBO- 
Added as a Supplement monthly to the "TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST:' 
The following pages include the contents of the Magazine of the School of 
Agriculture for May : — 
INDIGENOUS FOOD PEODUCTS : CULTI- 
VATED AND WILD. — VII. 
By W. A. De Suva. 
Celastraceae- 
14. Solatia Reticulata Wight— Sin : Himbutoo. 
This is an arboraceous creeper growing wild in the 
warm parts of the island. The slender stems which 
bend to form an arbour and the dark green reticulated 
tough leaves are very marked. The fruits which are 
round in form are produced in large numbers ; they 
are generally about an inch in diameter. The outer 
covering of the fruit is very smooth, and when young 
is of a dark green colour, but when ripening turns 
first into a Blightly yellow colour, and when fully ripe to 
a reddiBh yellow. The fruits contain one and some- 
times two large globular seeds, and around the 
seed and beneath the epicarp is found a soft fleshy 
substance, which, when ripe, is of a sweet taste, but in 
a raw state this substance is not flethy but hard and 
astringent. The pulp found along with the seed is 
eaten. The woody stem of this plant is used by Native 
Medical Practitioners in cases of diabetes. 
Ampelideae. 
15. Vitis Quadrangularis. Wall. (Cissus Edulis DaL). 
Sin : Hiressa. 
This is a creeping plant commonly met with in the 
warmer parts of the Island. The stem is quadrangular 
and formed of as it were sepurate links or pieces from 5 to 
G inches in length, the joint between two such pieces is 
the node, and the stem is very green and succulent when 
'n the young state ; the leaves are simple dark green, 
and formed of three curves. There are tendrils by which 
the plant creeps and lays hold of others. The juicoof the 
stem contains acid substances as well as Blightly acrid 
Principles ; the latter are not very marked. 
The young stem is used in curries. It ia cut into 
small pieces and split, when the pieces are first immersed 
in hot water to remove the acridity. After this process 
is gone through, they are cooked as usual, when they form 
a good curry. This plant is also in high repute as a 
medicinal one. The juice of the stems is used in the 
preparation of a medicinal oil, and is considered to be 
a speotfio in earache. It is also used externally in eye 
diseases and internally for piles and aifeotions of the 
stomach. It also acts as a mild purgative, evid- 
ently owing to the presence of acids, and is success- 
fully used as such by Native Medical Practitioners. 
16. Leea Bambucina Willd : (L. Staphylea). 
S ng : Burnlla. 
This is a shrubby plant met with in the warmer 
parts of the island. The stem is characterised by 
its soft green appearance when young, and the black 
colour which it assumes when mature. The nodes are 
regularly set, and the stem contains a good deal of 
pith. Another feature of this plant is the readiness 
with which it gives out adventitious roots from the 
nodes. The leaves are compound (pinnate), and the 
leaflets are large and well-shaped with a terminating 
apex. The young leaf buds are of a pink colour and 
tree, while the full-grown leaves are dark green and well 
marked with the veins. The fruits appear in clusters 
and are green and hard, when raw, but when ripe they 
are succulent and assume a jet black colour. The 
succulent fruits are acrid and are slightly poisonous. 
The portion which is used for eating in this plant is 
the youDg leaf bud. These youDg buds are generally 
cut into thin shreds and made into a dry curry with 
o conut, chillies, &c. The very same leaves are used 
in lieu of hemp leaves and become slightly narcotic 
when allowed to ferment. 
The Leea leaves are used by Native Medical Practi- 
tioners to expel worms iu children, and also to cur 
