^vimbef,bi!94ra-}      The  Materia  Medica  of  Ceylon.  537 
N.  O.  Capparidese. — A  tree  with  3-foliate  leaves,  the  latter  small,  ovate,  lan- 
ceolate, abruptly  acuminate,  berry  globose.  The  leaves  are  employed  as  a 
remedy  for  gouty  swellings.  The  bark  is  used  as  an  appetizer  and  in  diseases 
of  the  urinary  organs. 
Crotalaria  labumifolia,  Iyinne.  (Yakberiya)  N.  O.  Leguminosae. — A  low  shrub 
with  slender,  elongated,  terete  branches  ;  leaflets,  ovate-oblong,  acute,  mem- 
branous, glabrous,  1-2  inches  long,  cuneate  at  the  base.  Racemes,  terminal 
■  and  lateral,  corolla  large,  bright  yellow,  much  exserted.  Pod  i%-2  inches 
long.  The  whole  plant  is  employed  for  diseases  of  the  gums  and  sore  throat, 
and  externally  for  sores  and  eruptions. 
Curcuma  longa,  (Kaha)  N.  O.  Scitamineae. — This  rhizome  and  its  powder 
are  well  known.  In  Ceylon  it  is  employed  in  skin  diseases  and  also  as  a  cool- 
ing wash  in  ophthalmia. 
Cyclea  burmanni,  Miers.  (Kehipittan)  N.  O.  Menispermaceae. — A  climbing 
shrub  with  peltate  leaves,  latter  thin,  coriaceous;  panicles  equalling  or  exceeding 
the  leaves,  many  flowered  and  pubescent.  In  Ceylon  Cycled  burmdnni 
ascends  to  2,600  feet.  The  whole  plant  is  used  for  catarrhal  fever,  cough  and 
asthma. 
Cyperus  rotundus,  Linne.  (Kalandura),  N.  O.  Cyperaceae. — The  rhizome  is 
used  in  fever,  diarrhoea,  dyspepsia  and  stomachic  complaints.  It  is  also  con- 
sidered to  be  diaphoretic. 
Desmodium  triflorum,  D.  C.  (Hin-undu-pinyali),  N.  O.  Leguminosae.— A 
trailing  herb,  stems  caespitose,  very  slender,  trailing,  copiously  branched, 
clothed  with  fine,  spreading  hairs.  Flowers  1-3,  together  without  a  common 
peduncle,  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves.  Pod  3-5  jointed,  pubescent.  It  is  used 
in  cases  of  fever  caused  by  catarrh. 
Dipterocarpus  zeylanicus,  Thwaites  (Hora),  N.  O.  Dipterocarpeae. — A  lofty 
tree,  young  branches  compressed  and  glabrous,  flowers  in  a  raceme,  petals 
blood  red  with  pale  yellow  margins  ;  fruit,  a  nut  densely  canescent,  The  resin 
is  used  in  the  devil  ceremonies,  and  the  leaves  and  bark  to  reduce  the  swelling 
of  the  joints  of  cattle  caused  by  overwork.  It  will  be  remembered  that  a  num- 
ber of  species  of  Dipterocarpus,  indigenous  to  the  Bast,  yield  gurjun  bdlsdm, 
or  wood  oil. 
Dregd  voubilis,  Benth.  (Kirianguna),  N.  O.  Asclepiadaceae. — A  stout,  tall 
climber,  branches  often  pustular.  Leaves  ovate,  sub-orbicular  or  cordate  acu- 
minate, rather  coriaceous.  Peduncles  slender,  umbels  drooping,  stigma  dome- 
shaped.  Follicles  %^\x/2  inches,  broadly  lanceolate,  turgid,  glabrous.  Given 
in  mild  fever  to  children  and  also  to  women  after  child-birth  to  improve  the 
secretion  of  milk.    It  is  also  said  to  cure  asthma. 
Echptd  erectd,  Lamk.  (Kikirindi),  N.  O.  Compositae. — This  is  now  E.  dlbd, 
Hassk.  It  is  a  strigose  hirsute  annual ;  leaves  sessile,  linear  or  oblong,  lanceolate, 
n  arrowed  at  both  ends.  Heads  small,  axillary  in  terminal  peduncles .  Cosmopol- 
itan in  warmer  climates.  Like  Wedelia  Cdldtidulaced  (Ran-wan-kikirindi),  it 
is  used  to  purify  the  blood,  to  cure  cutaneous  diseases  and  to  cool  the  head. 
Eleusine  indicd,  Gaertn.  ( Walkurrakan,  Belatana),  N.  O.  Graminese.  This 
grass,  naturalized  from  India  and  now  so  common,  especially  in  Southern  Uni- 
ted States,  known  as  "dog's-tail"  or  "wire-grass,"  is  reputed  in  the  Sinhalese 
Materia  Medica  to  be  useful  in  sprains  and  dislocations. 
Epaltes  divaricdta,  Cass.  (Hinmudamahana)  N.  O.  Compositae.    A  glabrous 
