NOTES ON THE FLOWERING PLANTS OF MUTURAJAWELA By K. L. D. Amaratunga* The Muturajawela swamp lies between Colombo and the Negombo lagoon, stretching northwards from Wattala to a little beyond Ja-Ela. Its eastern boundary is roughly demarcated by the Wat-tala Ja-Ela trunk road. On the coastal side, the drive from Hendala to Pamunugama could be taken for its western limits, thus leaving between it and the sea a relatively high sand ridge. The area is low lying and consists mainly of acid peaty de-posits. There is a layer of "muck" overlying peat and sandy clay. It has a mean annual rainfall of about 90" and a tempera-ture of about 80° F. There is no pronounced dry season. On visits made during March, June, September and December 1962/63, the following plants were in flower. In this list, against each name, the name of the family according to J. Hut-chinsons system of classification is given. Nymphaeaceae 1. NYMPHAEA STELLATA Willd., Sp. PI 2: 1153, 1799; Trimen Handb. Fl. Ceylon 1: 50, 1893. Sinhala: Manel. In ditches in swamp. Fl. March. Anonaceae 2. ANONA GLABRA L., Sp . PI. ed. 1, 537, 1753. On earth fillings almost bordering water-filled marsh. This is the Alligator-or Monkey Apple of the West Indies. Lauraceae 3. CASSYTHA FILIFORMIS L., Sp. PI. ed. 1, 35, 1753; Trimen, Handb. Fl. Ceylon 3: 455, 1895. Herbarium, Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya, Ceylon. U52
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