SCIENCE is now becoming rare in the wild. All the chairs in the cathedral’s pews are made of Satinwood. 8. Calamander (Diospyros quaesita): TREES IN THE it is also called Coromandel. Sinhala: Kalu Medhiriya. The name calamander seems to have been derived from the Sinhala name. Calamander is a species of tree CATHEDRAL endemic to Sri Lanka. The wood of this tree is black and hard like ebony. It is a beautiful wood since it has streaks of brown mixed with Roughbark Lignum-Vitae Guaicum officinale. black. One tree here is 15 feet tall. GARDENS This species is on the IUCN list of endangered trees. When the Dutch By Jayantha Jayewardene different palm trees and (g) important small shoot near the root, which was 3. Rosalee or Indian Rosewood lot of light to grow. The tree in the held the maritime provinces, they timber trees in a wood lot. There are collected by Vimal and planted in a (Dalbergia latifolia): Sinhala: cathedral is 20 feet tall. felled a large number of calamander he Anglican around 150 different species and poly bag. When the tree was about Kalumara. Tamil: Karunthuvarai, trees to make furniture. Cathedral of more than 600 trees planted in these two and a half feet tall, it was planted Iraavadi. This tree produces a 5. Kolon (Adina cordifolia): Sinhala: Christ the Living premises. close to where the original tree stood. hard, durable, heavy wood which Kolon. Tamil: Kadambai. The two Savior is located The new tree is about 20 feet tall now. when properly cured is durable trees growing here of 30 feet and 20 on Bauddhaloka Over the years many species of trees This tree grows well in South America. and resistant to rot and insects. feet were planted by Vimal Pieris. Mawatha which was have been planted in the cathedral In Sri Lanka it does not get into full There is a single tree of this species Kolon timber has been used for once Buller’s Road. gardens, mainly by Mr. Vimal Pieris, bloom, but blooms only in sections. here. This plant was brought from boat building since it is resistant TWhen I was a schoolboy the land on who looked after the gardens for India by Dr. Vivekanandan, the to marine borer. The juice of the which the cathedral now stands was over 35 years. This article describes a 2. Roughbark Lignum-Vitae or then Silviculturalist of the Forest bark is applied externally to kill the yard of Socoman and Co, a French number of the species growing there Gaïacwood (Guaicum officinale): this Department and given to Vimal worms found in sores. Sometimes firm that was working on the Greater now. Since Socoman’s yard had many tree is also called the tree of life. All Pieris. The Coconut Research the crushed leaf of this tree is used Colombo Water project. There was a heavy vehicles, there was a lot of species of the genus Guaiacum are Institute at Lunuwila has a tree of for “nanu” for the Sinhala new year golf link adjacent to this yard which oil that had drained into the soil and now listed in Appendix II of CITES the same species but with a different festival and the leaves are used to is where the Bandaranaike Memorial contaminated it. Vimal had to excavate (the Convention on International form of leaf. These leaves are broader stand on during the traditional oil International Conference Hall (BMICH) this soil from each planting hole, Trade in Endangered Species of Wild than those of the single tree in the anointing ceremony. now stands. The golf club which was take it away and put in new soil in Fauna and Flora) as a potentially cathedral. 6. Ath demata (Gmelia arborea). there does not exist anymore and which plants would grow. There still is endangered species. A natural resin contaminated soil in some areas. can be extracted from the wood. This 4. Red sandalwood (Pterocarpus Sinhala: Ath Demata. Tamil: Kumil the golf links have been built on. The and Kumalan. Maybe it is called Ath cathedral stands on a land area of a little resin has a lubricating quality and santalinu): Sinhala: Rath Handun. 1. Pink Trumpet tree (Tabebuia demata since the trunk of the tree over 10 acres. It was consecrated on the was used in the shipping industry for This tree is not indigenous. However, avellanedae): this tree was presented resembles the leg of an elephant, as 7th of November 1973. the construction of the main bearing there is one tree presented by Lyn by Mrs Smedley, wife of the then in the final drive of the propeller shaft de Alwis, former Director of Wildlife the picture shows. The two trees in Many species of trees have been British High Commissioner, when of ships. The wood is also resistant and the Zoological Gardens, which he these premises are 50 ft. and 20 ft. planted in the cathedral gardens. They the cathedral was first built. At the to salt. It is the fourth-hardest variety had brought from India. This tree is tall. The fruit is used as a dye and the have been planted in sections. The beginning the side branches of the of wood as measured by the Janka valuable because of the rich red color bark and roots are used for medicinal sections are (a) flowering trees on the tree were trimmed, as a rule, before hardness test. It is the national flower of its wood. The wood is not aromatic purposes. sides of the front lawn and on either the start of the south west monsoon of Jamaica. Members of this genus but has a pleasant smell when 7. Ceylon satinwood (Chloroxylon side of the front entrance (b) medicinal in order to balance the tree and protect have a variety of uses, including powdered. Red Sandalwood is used in swietenia): Sinhala: Burutha. Tamil: it from wind damage. When this lumber, for medicinal purposes and as India in traditional herbal medicine trees on the BMICH side continuous to Mutirai, Vaaimaram. Because of its balancing was not done, the tree had ornamentals. There are three trees in as an antipyretic, anthelmintic tonic, the road leading out of the premises high quality timber, this tree has (c) fruit trees (d) spice trees (e) beverage fallen over and the main tree died the cathedral garden, also brought by for dysentery, as an aphrodisiac and as a result. Fortunately, there was a been cut down indiscriminately and trees such as tea, cocoa, cinnamon (f) Mrs. Smedley. a diaphoretic. These trees need a Ath demata - Gmelia arborea. 36 LORIS MAGAZINE VOL - 28 ISSUE 25 LORIS MAGAZINE VOL - 28 ISSUE 25 37 HEDRAL GARDENS T HE CA T 9. Diya na (Mesua thwatesii): this dried. This fruit is especially popular taste, with sweet, bitter and pungent douche to treat vaginal discharge. tree is endemic to Sri Lanka. In the with bears, which climb the tree secondary tastes. It has a very high The resin is applied topically in the TREES IN most recent revision Diya na is and gorge themselves on the fruit. concentration of vitamin C. treatment of skin conditions. The named Mesua thwaitesii and na as Monkeys, bats, giant squirrels and bark is used, either as a powder or Mesua ferrea. The stem of the tree civet cats also eat the fruit off the 18. Gammalu (Pterocarpus in a de coction, in the treatment of is separated by protruding vertical tree. When the bears eat the fruit, marsupium): Tamil: Acamai, diarrhea. A de coction of the bark is SCIENCE streaks. The tree here is 15 feet tall. some of it fall onto the ground. These Acanapann. There is one tree in very useful for diabetic patients. All the parts of this tree are used for are picked by deer, wild boar and the gardens which is 45 feet tall. medicinal purposes. porcupine that cannot climb the tree. The whole gammalu tree is used The heartwood is considered to be Kalu Habaraliya - Diospyros ferrea. The fruit is an intoxicant. for medicinal purposes. The resin, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, 10. Wewarana (Alseodaphne obtained from wounds in the bark, antioxidant and astringent. It is semecarpifolia): Tamil: 14. Spanish cherry - (Mimusops is astringent and is used to make used to treat a range of complaints. construction of doors and window 22. Kalu habaraliya (Diospyros Kanaippirandai. It is a tree endemic elengi): Sinhala: Moonamal. Tamil: incense. It is used in the treatment of Gammalu is related to Red frames. Various parts of the tree are ferrea): also known as black ebony, to the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. Magizham Maram. There are two chronic diarrhoea and the irritation Sandalwood and it is used to make used for medicinal purposes. Milla there is one tree which is 20 feet tall. This tree is 20 feet tall. It is a trees in the cathedral gardens, caused by gastric infection and fake sandalwood powder. timber beams cannot be used as Kalu habaraliya, which belongs to species which is under threat in each about 20 feet tall. Moonamal colitis. Although it has an unpleasant horizontal beams because of its the calamander and ebony family, 19. Milla (Vitex pinnata): Tamil: Nadu. the wild, mainly due to habitat loss. is used in medicine and also as an flavor, it makes a good mouthwash structural strength. It is resistant branches off at a low level. The fruit There are two trees in the compound. It is found mostly in the Badulla ornamental flowering tree. The fruit and gargle. It is commonly used in to termite attacks and decay and is edible when ripe.