151 



612. CEROXYLON ANDICOLA, continued. 



b. Wax, melted into masses. 



Note. The wax forms a white marble-like coating on the trunk of the 

 tree. The tree, when cut down and scraped, yields usually about 25 Ibs. 

 See Treat. Dot., p. 258. The wax is hard and somewhat resinous, and 

 does not seem to become rancid by keeping. Hiit. des Drag., t. iL, 

 p. 136. It is used in New Granada for making candles. 



613. CORTPOA CERIFBRA, Amid.; COPERNICIA CERIFEBA, Mart. 



a. Root. (Carnauba Root.') Presented by Dr. Byrnes. 



b. Wax. (Carnauba Way, Brazilian Wax, Palm Wax.) 



Presented by Dr. Hooker. 



Note. The root possesses diuretic properties, and has lately been 

 introduced into this country as a substitute for sarsaparilla. See P. J. 

 [3] , vol. v., pp. 6G1 and 965. The wax has been used in this country for 

 making candles. Each tree yields about 4J Ibs. of wax. The wax is ob- 

 tained from the leaves, which are coated with it, by shaking them. See 

 Treat. Bot., p. 327. The wax is said to approach very nearly to bees- 

 wax in its chemical constitution. Hist, des Drag., t. ii., p. 136. It 

 melts at 180 F. Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 151. 



614. Cocos NTJCIFERA, L. (Cocoa Nut Palm.) 



a. Fruit, germinating, preserved wet. 



b. Ditto. Presented by Mr. L. Hetherington. 



c. Oil. (Cocoa-Nut Oil.) 



Note. The fruit is a tryma, the fibrous outer portion of which is used 

 for making matting, etc., and is known under the name of coir. What 

 is conlmonly called the cocoa-nut is the endocarp of the fruit, the edible 

 portion is the albumen, and the cocoa-nut milk is the liquor amnios. 

 The embryo is lodged in a small cavity in the albumen near the soft 

 hole in the shell. Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 150. Cocoa-nut oil 

 fuses at 70 F. It is used for making floating and marine soaps, which 

 form a lather with salt water. 



615. ELCEIS GUIMEENSIS, Jacq. (Guinea Oil Palm.) 



a. Seeds. 



b. Farina of seeds. 



c. Oil. (Palm Oil.) Two specimens'. 



Note. The oil is obtained from the mesocarp, or fibrous yellow portion, 

 of the fruit by boiling it in water. Palm oil melts at about 98 i F. It is 

 used in the manufacture of soap, candles, and glycerin, and also forms 

 an ingredient in the grease used for railway axles. See Per. MaL 

 Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 150. 



616. EIXEIS MELANOCOCCA, Gcertn. 



a. Fruit, preserved wet. 



Note. This species also yields a portion of the palm oil of commerce. 

 It is probably the specimen alluded to by Pereira as having been given to, 

 him by Mr. Warington. See Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 149. 



