March I, 1S92.] Supplement to the "■Tropical Agvictilturist:' 
695 
C. Olitonm called Jews' mallow (owing to the 
Jews, like the Indians, eating the tender leaves 
and .stem as a vegetable) also yields a fibre used 
for making saok cloth, cordage and even papet. 
The fibre is said to be long and fine, and such 
as might well be substituted for flax. 
Pandanus Odoratismnus produces a fibre of 
poor quality, which is used in Fiji for making 
mats. This plant occurs in Ceylon, and is very 
abundant near the sea. It is Icnown among the 
Siiduilese as Madu-keyiya, and commonly spoken 
of as the screw-pine. There are three indige- 
nous varieties of Pandanus in Ceylon — P Odova- 
tissimus (P. Fasciculariii) already mentioned, P. 
Iluniidis (P. Foetidus) the Sinhalese Dnnn-keyiya, 
and P. Furcatus, the Sinhalese Okeyiya, all of 
which are more or less used for mat-making by 
the natives. The two latter are common hedge 
plants for paddy-fields in the warmer parts of 
the Island. 
Boehmeria Isiivea is the rhea fibre or China 
grass out of which most of the so-called grass 
cloth is made. In Ceylon we have B. Mala- 
barica {Bin. Mahadiya dool) which is very common 
throughout the island. The bark of this plant 
is used by the Sinhalese for fishing lines. 
B. Platijphylla, with its varieties ' Mncrostackya, 
Zeylanica, and Riigosissima are common in the 
Central Province up to an elevation of 6,000 ft. 
Sterculia platanifolia produces a fibre from the 
bark of young trees which is used for making 
cordage. In Ceylon we have S. Balanyhm com- 
mon in the hotter parts of the island producing 
the Nava hemp, 8. Fwtida, the Sinhalese Telamboo 
also veiy common in the warmer parts of the 
island, S. Urem, the Tamil Kavali, S. Guttata 
found in the Ambagamuwa district, <S'. Chloraba, 
and S. Thwaitessi. S. Acuminata affords the 
Kola of the Africans. 
TWO CEYLON GEASSES. 
Gynodon Dactylon, a common grass in Ceylon, 
especially in the warmer parts of the Island, 
is known among the Tamils as Arugampillu, m 
Southern India as Iluryalee, and in North 
India as Doob. It is considered to be a splendid 
fodder, and is generally sought for by sellers of 
natural grasses. Isa Tweed, the author of a work 
on Dairying lately published in Calcutta, says 
it is by far the best grass for cattle in India. 
C. Dactylon is also found in England and 
other parts of Europe, as well as in China, 
Thibet, Australia, South and Central America, 
-and Cape Colony. Sir William Jones mentions 
that it is said to be the Agrostis of the Greeks, 
and tiiat its usefulness, (being the sweetest and 
most nutritious pasture for cattle) added to its 
beauty when in flower, induced the Hindoos to 
look upon it as a sacred plant. In the New 
Soutli Wales Agricultural Gazette for May last, 
it i.s figured and described as Couch grass or 
IJermuda grass. It is there mentioned as a 
most valuable pasture gra.ss which stock of all 
kind eat greedily and fatten on. Its under- 
ground stems are said to possess some of the medi- 
cinal projiei-ties of Sarsaparilla, the juice being 
also used as an astingcut and diuretic. The 
following is the chemical analysis of tlie young 
grass: Albumen 1 '60, Gluten 6-45, Starch 4-00, 
Gum iivIO, Sugar :3'60 per cent. 
Some months ago we applied to the Govern- 
ment Agent of the Northern Province for some 
■seed of what is known as Delft grass, that is the 
grass common to the Island of Delft, and which we 
have heard spoken of as an excellent fodder. In 
answer to our request we received a few plants 
of the grass, with the jn'omise that we shall 
have the seed when it was available. The 
]dauts sent us as Delft grass have come up 
well and are now in flower, and Dr. Trimen, to 
whom we referred specimens for identification, 
thinks the grass is Androjjoyon Verdcolor (a 
variety of A. SchoenantMcs), a kind of small mana 
grass, with a peculiar scent in the leaves. 
Thwaites mentions that the grass is found in 
the more elevated parts of the Central Province, 
that the inflorescence when crushed has a ra- 
ther aromatic odour, and that the essential oil 
appears to be situated principally at the base 
of the spikelets. Mr. William Ferguson mentions 
the grass as one very common at Wilson's Bun- 
galow, and says that specimens grown in Colombo 
had a light green colour, and when bruised in 
a fresh state had a strong small of anise. These 
qualities are just what characterize our own 
specimens at the School of Agriculture. The grass, 
says Ferguson, may be called the Anise-scented 
grass. It is curious that none of the authorities 
quoted above make mention of Delft in connec- 
tion with Andropoyon Versicolor. The grass seems 
rather coarse, and altogether strikes one as not 
being a grass that cattle would ' care to eat 
much of. In order to make sure that Andro- 
poyon Versicolor is the true Delft grass, speci- 
mens of those growing at the School of Agri- 
culture are being sent to Jaffna for comparison 
with the grass as found growing in the Island 
of Delft. 
« 
INDIGENOUS FOOD PRODUCTS : 
CULTIVATED AND WILD. 
By W. a. De Silva. 
Labiatae. 
64. Leucas Zeylanica, Br. Sin. Getatumba, 
is a low shruby plant growing in unculti- 
vated places and waste lands. The leaves are 
small, lanceolate, and of a bright green colour 
wil;h a hairy surface. Small flowers, with a 
cup-shaped calyx, and a white corolla, are 
borne in a raceme with compressed peduncles. 
The leaves when bruised have a peculiar 
smell. These leaves are often eaten 
along with rice, either boiled or made into 
curriea. Tliey possess, rather a bitter taste 
which some however like. The plant is 
much valued as a medicinal one, for the 
boiled leaves are an excellent remedy in 
bow(d disorders. It is also used in mild 
fever a used to indigestion, and to relieve 
pain due to intestinal worms. Externally 
the bruised leaves are applied in dog bite. 
Nyctayine.ae. 
6."'). Boerhaavia Diffu.ia. L. Sin. Pitasudupaln. 
This is a herb growing in waste lands, and es- 
jiriially in fertile spots, such 11s the sides of 
