155 



632. AVENA SATIVA, continued. 



grain. Oats yield about 65 per cent, of starch. Oatmeal, if allowed to 

 get damp, contracts a bitter taste. Per. Mat. Sled., vol. ii., pt. i., pp. 76-79. 

 For fig. of starch, see above work, frontispiece, fig. 3. The grains are 

 more angular than those of wheat, and not lenticular in shape. See 

 Bentley and Trimen, Med. Plants, tab. 292. 



633. BAM BUS A ARDNDINACEA, L. 



a. Stem. (Bamboo.) 



ffote. For an account of the uses of bamboo, see Treat. Bot., p. 120. 

 See also Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. xxvi., p. 1. 



634. Corx LACHRYMA, L. 



a. Caryopsides. (Job's Tears.) 



Note. This specimen was in the International Exhibition of 1851, and 

 was contributed by Mr. T. B. Duggin, of Berbice, Brit. Guiana. The 

 grains are said to possess diuretic and tonic properties, Treas. Bot., 

 p. 311. They are also used as beads, Bentley, Man. Bot., p. 685, and as a 

 substitute for pearl barley. 



635. ET.EUSINE CORACANA, Pers. 



a. Panicle of fruit. (Natchnee.) 



Note. This grass is cultivated as a corn crop in Japan, and also on 

 the Coromandel Coast, where it is known under the name of natchnee. 

 Treas. Bot., p. 446 ; Bentley, Man. Bot. t p. 685. 



636. HOLCUS SORGHUM, Pers. 



a. Caryopsides. (Indian Millet, Guinea Corn, Durra, Jaar, 

 Turkish Millet.) Presented by Dr. Daniell. 



Note. This grain is used in this country for feeding poultry. Tho 

 stems are used in the manufacture of carpet brooms, etc. Bentley, Man. 

 Bot., p. 686. In many warm countries this grain replaces oats. Treas. 

 Bot., p. 1074. For fig. of the plant see P. J. [1] , vol. xi., p. 350. 



637. HORDEUM DISTICHUM, L. 



a. Caryopsides. (Barley.) 



b. Ditto, decorticated. (Scotch, hulled, or pot Barley.) 



c. Ditto, ditto. (Pearl Barley.) 



d. Malt. 



Note. As found in commerce, the grains are usually enclosed in the 

 palete or husk. Patent barley simply consists of the ground decorticated 

 grain. Barley meal contains about 68 per cent, of starch. Scotch barley 

 consists of the grain with the husk partly removed by a mill. Pearl 

 barley consists of the grain with all the integuments removed, and the 

 seeds rounded and polished. Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 83. For 

 fig. of starch, see above work, frontispiece, fig. 2. 



Malt is the grain in which about 40 per cent, of the starch is turned 

 into glucose and dextrine, by the altered proteine or diastase of the seed. 

 Malt dried at 100 F. , is pale malt ; at 180 F., amber malt ; at 260 F., 

 brown malt. The brown malt is used for flavouring. Roasted or burned 

 malt is used for colouring porter, etc. Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., 

 p. 85. See Bentley and Trimen, Med. Plants, tab. 293. 



