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2. Capparis moooil Wight, III. 1: 35.. 1840. (Fig. 105).
Sinh. Sudu—welangiriya.
CAPPARIDACEAE
A very large, much-branched, woody climber, stems attaining as much as 20 cm
in diameter, bark smooth, young branches shining; leaves simple, alternate, 8.5—12.5 cm
long, 2.5—4.5 cm broad, oval-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, apiculate, entire,
rather thick, glabrous and shining; petioles 1—1.2 cm long with a pair of sharp, hooked, stipule
spines at the base of each; flowers regular, bisexual, very large, 10—12.5 cm diameter, pure
white, 3—6 together in corymbose clusters at the ends of branches, pedicel 3.5—5.5 cm long;
sepals 4, biseriate, imbricate, about 2.5 cm long, orbicular, concave; petals 4, imbricate,
spreading, 5 cm long, pubescent on the upper surface; stamens numerous, erect, 8—10 cm
long, gynophore slightly longer; ovary superior, unilocular, urceolate, glabrous with 4 parietal
placentas, ovules numerous, style short; fruit very large, 10—12 cm long, subglobose pointed
on much thickened woody stalk, seeds numerous, large, about 2 cm long, rotundate and pinkish.
Flowers during March and April.
Illustration. Herb. Peradeniya, drawing.
Distribution. This extremely ornamental creeper grows in Western India and Ceylon.
It is rather rare, confined to the moist low-country, up to an altitude of 3000 feet in Ceylon.
Uva Province, Hunnasgiriya, Panwila, Alagaiia, Hantane, etc.
Ceylon. Thwaites CP. 2415. North Central Prov., Ritigala, Willis, March 1905. Central
P»ov. Hantane, Appuhamy, Jan. 1957. Uva Prov., above Welimada, Simpson 9631, May 1932.
Uses. The roots of this plant, along with other ingredients are made into pills and given
for all ailments and glandular swellings of the throat, broncHitis, tonsilitis, etc. They are often
used for removing growths in the throat.
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