Jatropha Curcas L.: Pinoncillo, physic-nut. (see 
also Cnidosculus. ) 
McVaugh (119) says of this species: ‘“The original 
range of J. Curcas doubtless included the tierra caliente 
of southern Mexico and Central America, but as it is 
widely planted and has been so since before the advent 
of Kuropeans... ”°’ Now of wide distribution in the 
tropics, this shrub or small tree is planted as a hedge and 
has medicinal uses. The seeds are said to be edible if thor- 
oughly roasted, but are strongly purgative when fresh. 
Jatropha and Spondias were used as host plants for a coc- 
cid insect, the aw or avin, which was cultivated in Vera- 
cruz for a yellowish wax which it produced. This is a 
‘‘domesticated animal’’ of the Mexicans which is not 
well known. The wax was and is used as a varnish and 
also had medicinal uses. (119*, 183, 191*, 194, 200) 
Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl. (L. vulgaris 
Sér.): Tecomate, bule, bottle gourd. 
The gourd is still of some importance in primitive cul- 
tures and must have been much more so to non-ceramic 
groups. It is thought to be a native of the Old World, 
perhaps of Africa, but is known from archaeological evi- 
dence to have had a very wide distribution in America 
at an early time. J. siceraria is the only species in the 
genus, but the closely related genera are Old World 
plants. Kobiakova (109) has attempted a preliminary 
study of this species and believes that the American 
gourds are derived from Africa. However, this study is 
admittedly based on insufficient material and American 
students (72, 141) have found it to be inadequate. The 
dispersal of the bottle gourd in America may parallel that 
of cotton. (51, 72*, 108, 109, 141, 177a, 198, 215*) 
Lemaireocereus: see under Pachycereus. 
Lucuma: see Pouteria. 
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