FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 



the attraction of the most delightful confection. Moreover it is more 

 easily cultivated, and more prolific than even the potatoe, and is almost the 

 only tropical fruit without stone or core of any sort, and that can be 

 eaten unaided by any instrument, without inconvenience, and indeed 

 most conveniently. Well may it have been the primeval food of man, 

 as certainly i^ has been associated with the Arian stock from its earliest 

 records ; but the first chapters of Genesis are probably allegorical (Philo, 

 St. Ambrose, Origen), (as strangely those will not admit who insist on 

 the spiritual sense of Solomon's Epithalamium), and if any real plant was 

 present to the mind of the writer, it was possibly the same as the Som 

 of the Vedas, and Horn of the Zend Avesta. 



Of this order M. maculata and M. sylvestris, Heliconia humilis, and 

 Ravenala speciosa, have edible seeds, or fruits. The Ensate of Abyssinia 

 mentioned by Bruce is a Musad. The following also may be mentioned. 

 N. O. 236. 



Barbiana hypogcea of the Cape has edible roots. 

 Gladiolus edulis, Eatable Corn-flay of Cape of Good Hope. 

 N. O. 237. AMYRILLIDACE^E. 



Alstrcemeria salsilla, Eatable rooted Alstrcemeria of Peru. 

 Gethyllis edulis, also of the Cape, has edible roots. 



N. 0. 241. BROMELIACE^E. BROMELWORTS. 

 Ananassa sativa. Schult. Common Pine Apple. 



Li-mi. Syst. Hexandria Monogynia. 



The mass of succulent bracts, used as a fruit. 



Vernacular. Ananas, Dec. Tel. Pooreethee, Koida-cheeka, Mai. 

 Anasa, Tarn. Annasi, Cey. Anannas, Arab. Nanus, Malaya, 

 Java. Manas, Bali. Lanas, Madura. Kamas, Lasnpang. Pan- 

 dang, Celebes. Pina, Philippines. Nanas, Peru. 



Habitat. Peru. Grows luxuriantly in parts of the Concan ; and is 

 a weed in Malaya and the Eastern Archipelago generally. 



N. O. 242. LILIACE^i. LILYWORTS. 

 Allium Cepa. W. Common Onion. 



Linn. Syst. Hexandria Monogynia. 



The bulb, used as a vegetable, and garnish. 



Vernacular. Palandu, Latarka, Sans. Pulantoo, Beng. Peeaj, 

 Hind. Beng. Kembally, Can. Vengyayum, Tarn. Wotliyuidda, 

 Tel. Loono, Cey. Bussul, Arab, llawanymera, Malaya. 



Habitat. 1 Cultivated over the world. 

 . 181 



