Sept. i, 1893.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
173 
" The wood is of a bright jeUoir colour, and is valued 
as a bitter tonic by the Siuhalea?. Il has been exported 
to Ji,land aa a substitute for Oalumba root and called 
' false caluoiba ' (ste W. J. H )oker in Phatm. Journ. 
Oct. 1852). A jeUowdje is also obtained from it." 
Berheris aristata, Barbery Eng. (p. 49.) 
"Wood yellow, hard. The root bark of this species is 
muob uaed in India as a biiter tonio in fevers and an 
extract from tbe woi d is there well known us ' Rasont,' 
and is found a valuable looal application in chronic 
opthalmia." 
2\clunhiuiii speciosim, Nelnn S. (p. 51 & 52.) 
"This 18 tbe Cyamus or ' Sacred Bean ' of ancient 
Egypt, but is u.'uilly called the 'Lotus' by Europeans 
in tbe East. It does not now grow in Ei:ypt. A great 
ornameot to the tauk.'^, often covering many acffS with 
it3 curious leaves aud fruit and magnificent flowers. 
Thelarge seeiisare a-tic'e of food." 
Cappai-is Zei/lanica, Kattoddi (p. 61.) 
" The leaves vary greatly in width, but the vaiieties 
based on ttieir forms are cjiin cted by internaediate 
states. The coloured patch at the base of the upper 
petals may be either yellow, pink, dull purple or 
crimson, or either in combination as setn at different 
6t%ges of growth. Some of Hermann's specimens are 
doubtful. The green fruit is sliced, drieJ, cooked and 
e.iten." 
Trichadenia Zeylaiiica, Tolol or Titta S. (p. 75.) 
" A little known forest tree, now become scarce 
tfarougb extensive clearing. The leaves of seedling 
trtei or young shoots are sometimes very large aud 
deeply palmatelj 7-fid. The wood is useless. An oil is 
obtained from the seeds and used in skin diseases and 
for burning." 
Portulaca oleracea, Genda-Kola S. (p. 89.) ' 
" An aoundaiit weed iu cultivated ground throaghoni 
the countiy. Fl. all the year; yellew. In all tropical 
and warm countries. The Pursl8ne,a common potherb. 
The fls. are open on'y for a few hours in the morning. 
and P. quadriMa, Hin Genda Kola S. (p. 90.) 
•' Jixtcemely common in cultivated ground in the low 
countrj, extetding up to 3,000 ft. Fl, all the year; 
lemon-yellow, open in the middle of the day only. 
Througbout tropical Asia aud Africa, a common weed. 
Variable ; iu dry places often very small with the 
stipular hairs very long and shaggy." 
Garcinia Camhogia, Goraka S. (p. 95 & 96.) 
" Tne fruit varies extremely iu ttie rumber of grooves 
often as many as 12 or 13 aud in the shape aud depth 
of the lobes and their colour ; cne red variety is very 
like a Lirge tomato. It is ripe in July, bhJ is acid but 
pleasant ; the rind cut into pieces ana dried in the sun 
IS much eaten by the natives, and is very palatable. 
Wood hard, fine-grained, greyish. The bark affords a 
transparent gum-resin." 
Doona trapczifoha, Yakahalu S. (p. 121 & 122.) 
"Easily recognised by ttie hue small raiBed retici:ilAtion 
of ttie upper enrtace of the leaf. The name ' Yaka- 
halu ' is applied, with different prefixes to several 
other species of this family in South of Ceylon. This 
is called ' Beraliya Yakahalu' in S. Prov. There 
appear to be several varieties recognised by the natives 
aud possibly more than one species are confounded 
here. The fruit of the Ambagamuwa tree (2200 ft.) is 
shorter anii has smaller frnit-sep. than as above des- 
cribed. The fruits are dried, pounded and made iuto 
flour lor food and are largely consumed when they can 
be got, but are said to bo produced only every seventh 
year. It was abundant in the S. Prov. in 1887." 
Fatena acuminata Hal S. (p. 131.) 
"Avery beautiful treo ol ten plantel for orDameiit. 
The stem txades a clear yellowish (erroneously iaid to 
be 'green' iu Fl. B. lud.) resin abnudautly, equal to 
tlio best dammar. The bark is much used tor checking 
the fermentation of toddy and many trees are killed by 
being atrippad. Wood light, rather hard jcUowish 
grey. The si'eds are ground into meal Bnd eaten." 
Uibisci')i Ahelmoichv.s, Kapukinissa S. (p, 156.) 
"Moist low country ; rather rare and doutjtfuUy native 
Colombo (Moon) ; Kandy ; Badnlla ; Rtigsm Korale. 
Fl. Stpiember ; briglit yellow with a purple centre. 
Founu wild or cul ivated in most Tropical countries. 
The seeds have a very strong odour of muek but I do not 
know that th^y aie oBad in QinhaleBQ medicine, 
though they have a reputation in Persia and Arabian 
B. esculentus, L. is coii'monly grown as a vegetable 
and met with half wild in native grrdens. Its capsules 
are the Fandahhay, T. so much used in Ceylon 
cookery." 
Enodendr<Mi anfractuositm, Imbul S. (p. 161) 
"Low country up to 2.000 fr., very common bnt nearly 
always plautcd and I doubt if really a native. Fl. Jan.- 
March ; creamy-white, f lintly scented. Apparently 
found in Tr( pics of both woride : native of Malaya (?) 
Though each seed appears to have a separate invest- 
ment of cotton, this is quite uncouneoted with the teata 
and really arises from the inner side of wall of the 
capsule and from the central exis ; it nltimately be- 
comes s''part6d from these and is then a mere stuffiing 
round the seeds. This material is called • Pulun ' or 
silk cotton aiidis largely used for stuffiing cushitis and 
pillows ; of late years (under its Malay name ' Kapok') 
it has b: come an article of export on a rather lari.{e 
scale, chiefly to Queensland. A bright red resinous 
gum is iifforded by the stem." 
J/u/rai/aJcoenir/ii, Karapincha S. curry loaf S. (p. 221) 
" Low country, especially iu dryregion ; rather rare. 
Badnlla ; Maturata. Very much cultivated. Fl. Dec, 
August ; white, scented. Also in Indio. This is the 
familiar ^ curry leaf,' a constant ingredient in curries 
and muliigntawny. Its scent is pungeit and slightly 
aromatic. Wood hard, olose-graiLed, smooth, pale 
brownish-yellow, durable. ' 
Samadera indica, Samadara S. (p. 281) 
" Moist low country, in forests ; rather common. 
Galle ; Kalntara ; Hewesse ; Ohilaw. Fl. Match; 
pinkish-yellow. Also on the Malabar coast of S. India, 
i'he whole plant is very bitter and the bark, root and 
fruit arealltised as febrifuge mediciaes. An intueioD 
of the leaves is a good insecticide and destructive to 
white ants. Wood light, soft pale yellow." 
and Azadirackta indica, Kohomba S. (p. 244.) 
"This tree is generally known by its Portuguese neme 
' Margosa.' Iu India it is called ' Nim.' Wood 
moderately heavy, very hard, dark red with large pores. 
The bark is astringent and bitter and used as a I'ebriiuge 
and tonic. The oil from the seeds, Kohomba-tel is a 
universal external application for rheumatism, &o, and 
as an insect cide. Thw. states that the juice of the 
leaves which is very bitter, is used aa an aothelmiutio 
for cattle. Stands drought well and much planted as 
an avenue and roadside tree in the Jaffna district. 
Also it tells which are to be avoided as dangerons 
and poisonous as 
Anamirta panicidata, Titta-wel S. (p. 40) 
" The seeds are very bittter and poisonou?, and are 
known as 'Ooooulus indicus ' in pharmacy and in trade; 
they do not appear to be used in Ceylon." 
hijdnocaijms venenata, Makulu S. (p. 75 and 76) 
■' The fruits are used as a fish-poison having narcotic 
properties; and it is said that these are someiimes 
communicated to the fish so killed. The oil from the 
seeds is employed in skin coiaplainti. Wood yellow, 
moderately hard." 
CuUcnia exceka, Katu-boda S. (p. 162) 
" This is known as the ' Wild Durian' and it very 
closely resembles that Malayan finit tree, Durio 
rdbethimis L,, in foliage and the structure of the fruit ; 
this, however, has not the diegusting odour of the 
Darian, nor is it edible. Wood light, rather soft, pale 
yellow." 
Oxalis violacca, (a dreadftil weed) (p. 197) 
" 0. vio/acea L. This I take to be the name of the 
species which has become a very troublesome weed in 
some parlB of the hill districts in cultivated ground, 
increasing very rapidly by no means of its numerous 
bulbils, It is a native of the United States and 
already recorded in Moon Cat. 36," 
Can.yera Bltecdii, Eta-muraS. (p. 259) 
"Low country in both dry and moist regions; common. 
Mannar, Koenig (Mns. Brit.) Fl. Jan. Feb.; pale 
yellow. Also in India, Malaya, China and Trop. 
Australia. The leaves are finely wrinkled and greyish- 
yellow when dry. Three women at G-slle are said to 
have been poisoned by this plant eaiea aooideDtall; 
with vegetables." 
fia^ ifea sambiKina, Buxullft 3. (p. 297.) 
