NOTES. 
185 
Cuscuta chinensis Lam. — This species, recorded by Trimen 
for the Colombo District only and said to be very rare, was 
common in July, 1915, along the road to Gangaruwa, on the 
hillside facing the Botanic Gardens. It grew on practically 
everything it met, the particular species determined being 
Argyreia populifolia Chois., Mikania scandens Willd., Ocimum 
gratissimum L., Mimosa pudica L., Spondias mangifera Willd., 
and Ficus parasitica Koen. It was again abundant in July, 
1916. 
New Weeds. — Erechtites valerianæfolia DC. was observed at 
Hakgala in the shrubbery below the Botanic Gardens in April, 
1912. In 1914 it began to be common in the neighbourhood 
of Peradeniya, and it has since been found at Lunugala and 
Watagoda. It is evidently spreading generally over the 
up-country districts. 
Salvia tiliæfolia Vahl was found in abundance in April, 
1912, on the site of abandoned cooly lines at Hakgala, near 
the oak plantation. It was again found on the site of an old 
boutique at Ambawela, May, 1913 ; in a similar situation 
below the Hakgala Gardens, 1915 ; and on waste ground 
below cooly lines at Bandarawela in August, 1916. In all 
cases it appeared to be flourishing, but attempts to grow it 
at Peradeniya from Ceylon seed have not b'een successful. 
Its constant association with native habitations suggests that 
the seed is used, medicinally or for some other purpose, by 
Tamil coolies, but I have not been able to obtain any infor- 
mation on this point as regards either Ceylon or India. It is 
apparently not known as a weed or casual in India. 
From the Colombo District, the Rev. P. T. Cash has stsnfc 
in Acanthospermum humilc DC. (August, 1916) and Mitra- 
carpus villosus Cham, et Schlect., the latter from the Victoria 
park (August, 1916). The latter led to the discovery in the 
herbarium of another species of Mitracarpus, probably M. 
Torresianus Cham, et Schlect., which had been sent in by 
Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike in June, 1912, and wrongly 
identifled ; the locality is not recorded. — T. Petch. 
Nagadarana, — I am indebted to Mr. H. C. P. Bell for a 
specimen of “ Nagadarana,” which he informs me is carried 
by the snake charmers as a charm against snake bites. This 
