tffiS'l      The  Materia  Medica  of  Ceylon.  535 
Ceylon  and  the  leaves  and  roots  are  used  in  catarrhal  fever,  cough  and  similar 
troubles. 
Andropogon  muricatus  (Sevendara)  N.  O.  Oraminese.  The  roots  are  used 
in  bilious  fever. 
Azadirachta  indica,  Adn  Juss.  (Kohomba)  N.  O.  Meliaceae.  Now  placed  by 
Hooker  (Flora  Brit.  India)  in  Melia  and  called  Melia  Azadirachta,  Linne.  It  is 
a  tree  common  throughout  the  greater  part  of  India.  In  size  it  is  40^-50  feet. 
Flowers,  whitish,  honey-^scented.  Leaves,  8-15  inches  long,  crowded  near  the 
ends  of  the  branches.  The  seeds  supply  an  oil  (see  Buchanan  Journ.  Madras 
1,  9);  a  gum  also  exudes  from  the  tree  ( Buchanan >  1.  c.  188).  The  wood  resem- 
bles mahogany  and  the  bark  is  very  bitter.  The  juice  of  the  leaves  is  used  for 
injuries  to  the  eyes  and  to  kill  intestinal  worms.  The  bitter  bark  is  employed 
in  fevers  and  convulsive  diseases.  The  fruit  is  vermifuge  and  purgative.  The 
oil  extracted  from  the  seeds  is  a  good  external  remedy  for  rheumatism  caused 
by  exposure  to  cold  air. 
Barleria  prionitis,  Linne\  (Ratukaraudu).  N.  O.  Acanthaceae.  A  bush  2-5 
feet  high,  usually  very  prickly.  Leaves,  entire ;  flowers,  axillary;  fruit,  a 
capsule.  Occurs  in  tropical  India  from  the  Himalayas  to  Ceylon  and  Malacca* 
probably  in  most  cases  introduced  as  it  is  used  for  the  preparing  of  hedges.  It 
is  said  to  be  a  cooling  diuretic  and  tonic.  The  whole  plant  is  used  in  urinary 
and  paralytic  affections,  rheumatism,  jaundice,  hepatic  obstruction  and 
dropsy. 
Bassia  longifolia,  Linne.  (Mi.)  N.  O.  Sapotacese.  A  common  tree,  50  feet 
high;  leaves  clustered  towards  the  ends  of  the  branches,  all  of  the  young  parts 
rusty  tomentose.  Leaves,  lanceolate,  narrowed  at  both  ends,  glabrous,  dis- 
tinctly nerved;  stipules  linear;  pedicels  1-2  inches  long,  tomentose,  in  dense 
clusters  near  the  ends  of  the  branches.  This  tree  yields  a  valuable  timber  and 
the  flowers  and  fruit  furnish  a  nourishing  jelly.  The  bark  is  slightly  astringent 
and  rather  pleasant.  It  is  used  as  an  appetizer  and  in  rheumatism.  The  leaves 
and  bark,  as  well  as  the  fixed  oil  of  the  seed  are  used  in  rheumatic  and  cuta. 
neous  diseases.  The  oil  from  the  seeds  is  the  greenish  Elloopa  oil  which  is 
used  externally. 
Bombax  malabaricum  T>.  C.  (Katu-imbul),  N.  O.  Malvaceae.  A  large  tree 
covered  with  short,  hard  conical  prickles,  branches  spreading;  leaflets  6-12 
inches  long,  glabrous,  petiole  longer  than  the  leaflets,  secondary  petioles  1 
inch.  Flowers,  numerous,  fascicled  at  or  near  the  ends  of  the  branches; 
corolla,  6-7  inches,  red  or  white.  Capsule,  6-7  inches  long,  ovoid,  downy, 
valves  silky  within.  It  is  called  cotton  tree  and  grows  through  Eastern  Hima- 
laya and  throughout  the  hotter  forest  regions  of  India  to  Burmah  and  Ceylon. 
The  roots  are  employed  as  a  restorative,  astringent,  and  alterative;  externally 
they  are  applied  for  swellings  and  rheumatic  pains. 
Calotropis  gigantea,  R.  Br.  (Wara).  N.  O.  Asclepiadaceae.  A  shrub  with  thick 
herbaceous  branches,  bark  thick,  soft,  wrinkled,  ash-colored.  The  young 
shoots,  under-sides  of  the  leaves  and  inflorescence  are  covered  with  soft  wooly 
trichomes.  Flower,  purplish,  lilac  or  white  ;  flowering  nearly  throughout  the 
year.  One  of  the  most  common  plants  in  dry  waste  places.  The  fibre  from  the 
inner  bark  was  formerly  used  for  the  manufacture  of  cloth  for  the  princes  and 
nobles.  The  hairs  of  the  seeds  are  said  to  be  made  into  thread  in  Borneo.  At- 
tempts to  weave  it  have  been  made  in  Madras.    Gunpowder  charcoal  is  made 
