270.] [Footnote 3: Evolvulus alsinoides.] [Footnote 4: Lippia nodiflora.] [Footnote 5: Scaevola takkada and S.Koenigii] [Footnote 6: Pandanus odoratissimus.] [Footnote 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 AEgiceras 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.
[Footnote 1: Two species of _Rhizophora_, two of _Bruguiera_, and one of _Ceriops_.] [Footnote 2: Paritimn tilliaceum.] [Footnote 3: Thespesia populnea.] [Footnote 4: Tamarix Indica.] [Footnote 5: Dilivaria ilicifolia.] [Footnote 6: Nipa fruticans.] [Footnote 7: Hernandia sonora.] [Footnote 8: The identification of this tree with the mustard-tree alluded to by our Saviour is an interesting fact.

The Greek term [Greek: sinapis], which occurs Matt.

xiii 31, and elsewhere, is the name given to _mustard_; for which the Arabic equivalent is _chardul_ or _khardal_, and the Syriac _khardalo_.