BOTANY. 209 



Rattans. 



The epidermis (or scarf-skin) of the rattan con- 

 tains a sufficient quantity of silex (or flint) to give 

 light when struck with a steel ; and silex also gene- 

 rally exists in the epidermis of hollow plants. 



The Teak Tree. 



The teak-tree, like the oak, takes from 50 to 100 

 years to come to maturity. It will often grow to the 

 height of 80 feet, and has been known to attain a 

 diameter of 5, 6, and even 8 feet. Its geographical 

 distribution is comparatively limited ; the Deccan, 

 and south of India, India beyond the Ganges, and 

 the island of Java, being its favourite habitations. 



Teak is stronger than oak, and rather more buoy- 

 ant. Its durability is more decided, and, unlike the 

 oak, it may be put in use almost green from the 

 forest, without danger of wet or dry rot. The oak 

 contains an acid which corrodes and destroys iron ; 

 the teak, on the contrary, possesses an essential oil, 

 which tends to the preservation of iron. In conse- 

 quence of this last quality, however, it is unfit for 

 the fabrication of casks or vessels to contain liquids, 

 except arrack, to which it imparts a peculiar flavour. 



The Date Tree. 



The Emperor Baber, in his memoirs written by 

 himself about A.D. 1520, says, " They say the date 

 alone, of all the vegetable kingdom, resembles the 

 animal kingdom in two respects : the one, if you cut 

 off the top of a date-tree it withers and dies ; the 

 other is, that as no animal bears without concourse 

 with the male, in like manner, if you do not bring a 

 branch of a male date-tree, and shake it over the fe- 

 male, it bears no fruit. I cannot vouch for the truth 

 of these remarks." 



