Talipot Palm Corypha umbraculifera Sri Lanka

770. The talipot tree is the Corypha umbraculifera (fig. 216.). All the books of importance in Pali and Cingalese, relative to the religion of Buddhoo in Ceylon, are written on laminﾵ of these leaves. This leaf is also used in the maritime provinces as a mark of distinction ; each person being allowed to have a certain number of these leaves folded up as fans, carried with him by his servants. They are also used in making tents; and, by the common people, to shelter themselves from the rain; one leaf affording sufficient shelter for seven or eight persons.