i 3 8 
THE VEGETATION OF THE DISTRICT OF 
to the Burmese officials who were wont to carry off the more comely 
amongst the maidens to adorn their harems* Formerly the leaves of 
Cinnamomum Tamala were pounded down and a solution made with 
water, which was employed to produce this most uncosmetic effect* 
Now-a-days the more prosaic lamp black is used. 
Gloriosa superha L. Burmese women are said to partake of the 
tubers of this plant as a means of committing suicide under 
stress of blighted affections. 
Imperata exaltata Brongn. Burm. Thetke : is used as thatching 
material. 
Saccliarum fuscum Roxb. Burm. Yin-bin . 
The stems of this are used in making fishing nets or rather 
enclosures for entrapping fish, and in making ‘ chicks . 1 
Pkragmites Karka Trin. Burm. Kyu-bin . 
The stems of this are split an d woven into mats. 
Borassus flabellifer L. The old leaf bases of this palm are utilised 
as bird scarers, being strung at intervals on strings stretched over 
growing crops, They are deceptively like dead birds strung up. 
Medicinal Plants. 
In the following list the medicinal properties described are the 
medicinal properties ascribed to the various plants by the peasantry 
of the district, and nothing more. 
C issampelos Pareira L. Burm. Kywet-nabaung . 
A paste is made from all parts of the plant and used as a local 
application in inflammatory conditions of the eye. 
Capparis liastigera Hance. Burm, Namanee-thwyet-gyi* 
A paste of the root is used as an application to sores. 
Capparis flavicans Wall. Leaves are used as a galactagogue. 
Taraktogenos Kurzii King. Burm. Kalaw-bin . 
The oil from the s*eds of this plant is used in conjunction with 
the oil obtained from the seeds of Semecarpus albescens Kurz, in 
the treatment of Leprosy. 
Limonia acidissima L. Burm. Thanakha . 
The bark of this is powdered and made into a paste as a cos* 
metic application to the face. 
Ventilago calyculata Tul. Burm. Thwe det. 
A paste of the root is employed as a local application to excite 
granulation in wounds. 
