2: Hedyotis umbellata. A very curious account of the Dutch policy In relation to Choya dye will be found in a paper On the Vegetable Productions of Ceylon, by W.C. ONDAATJIE, in the Ceylon Calendar for 1853. See also BERTOLACCI, B. iii. p. 270.
3: Evolvulus alsinoides.
4: Lippia nodiflora.
5: Scævola takkada and S. Koenigii
6: Pandanus odoratissimus.
7: Moodu-kaduru (Ochrosia parviflora); Moodu-cobbe (Ornitrophe serrata); Moodu-murunga (Sophora tomentosa,) &c. &c. Amongst these marine shrubs the Nil-picha (Guettarda speciosca), with its white and delightfully fragrant flowers, is a conspicuous object on some parts of the sea-shore between Colombo and Point-de-Galle.
Where the sand in the lagoons and estuaries is more or less mingled with the alluvium brought down by the rivers, there are plants of another class which are equally characteristic. Amongst these the Mangroves[1] take the first place in respect to their mass of vegetation; then follow the Belli-patta[2] and Suriya-gaha[3], with their large hibiscus-like flowers; the Tamarisks[4]; the Acanthus[5], with its beautiful blue petals and holly-like leaves; the Water Coco-nut[6]; the Ægiceras and Hernandia[7], with its sonorous fruits; while the dry sands above are taken possession of by the Acacias, Salvadora Persica (the true mustard-tree of Scripture[8], which, here attains a height of forty feet), Ixoras, and the numerous family of Cassias.
1: Two species of Rhizophora, two of Bruguiera, and one of Ceriops.
2: Paritimn tilliaceum.
3: Thespesia populnea.