Mee tree (Madhuca longifolia)
Mee is a native (a plant or animal that lives and reproduces in an area
without any human intervention) deciduous tree, which grows to a height
of 16-20m. Leaves are seen in whorls crowded at the terminal ends and
are oblong in shape with a tapered base and apex. The flowers are
fleshy, pale yellow in colour and are borne solitary but appear in
groups. The fruit is a yellow ovoid-shaped berry. The crown is rounded
with multiple branches. The bark is grey, vertically cracked and
wrinkled, exfoliating in thin scales. It has a large spreading root
system, of which some are superficial.
The importance of the Mee tree for local agriculture had been recognized
by the rulers of ancient Sri Lanka. This is evidenced by the presence of
a number of stone inscriptions which document rules and regulations
pertaining to the protection of these trees. A pillar inscription
installed by King Sena II (853-887AD) in Mihinthale prohibits the
cutting of palm, coconut, Mee and tamarind trees at the top of the
Mihinthale rock and asserts that violators would be fined (Ranawella,
2001) (Figure 1A). King Udaya III (935-938AD) banned the cutting down of
coconut and banyan trees as stated in his inscription at Athakada
(Ranawella, 2004). Cutting down of Mee and tamarind trees had been
banned in the Buddannehela stone inscription belonging to King Sena III
(938-946AD) (Ranawella, 2004). The Mihinthale slab inscription of King
Mihindu IV forbade the cutting of trees including Mee and palm and
decreed that offenders would be fined or put to work in irrigation work
(Amarawansa, 1969) (Figure 1B). He further declared in the Abhayagiri
slab inscription that lay people should not cut trees or plants
(Ranawella, 2004) (Figure 2). The Puliyankulama slab inscription of
Udamahaya states that palm and Mee trees should not be cut down
(Wickremasinghe, 1912). The Kiribathwehera slab inscription installed by
King Kashyapa IV (898-914AD) denotes a Mee tree as one of the borders of
an area of land (Wickremasinghe, 1912). This could be due to the fact
that Mee trees have a long lifespan owing to the fact that cutting down
these trees are prohibited. The Mee tree and palm tree are also
mentioned in the Aluthwewa pillar inscription commissioned by the same
king (Ranawella, 2001).