23 



as a purgative, emetic, and alexrphannic; in overdoses it is an 

 acrid poison. 



.Ml. Fi s AM -s A< t MIN ATUS. A small tree of the Cape of Good Hope and Australia. 

 It l>ears a globular fruit of the size of a small peach, and is known in Aus- 

 tralia as the native peach. It has an edible nut, called the Quandang nut, 

 which is said to be as sweet and palatable as the almond. 



212. GALIPEA OFFICINALIS. This South American tree furnishes Angostura bark, 



which lias ini]M>rtant medical properties, some physicians in South America 

 preferring it to cinchona in the treatment of fevers. Its use has been 

 > i atly retarded by bark of the deadly nux-vomica tree having been 

 inadvertently sold for it. As this bark is sometimes used in bitters, a mis- 

 take, as above, might prove as fatal as cholera. 



213. GAKCINIA MANGOSTANA. This tree produces the tropical fruit called mangos- 



tern, a beautiful fruit, having a thick, succulent rind, which contains an 

 astringent juice, and exudes a gum similar to gamboge. The esculent 

 interior contains a juicy pulp, of the whiteness and solubility of snow, and 

 of a refreshing, delicate, delicious flavor. The bark of the tree is used as a 

 basis for black dye, and it has also some medicinal value. 



21 1. GARCINIA MORELLA. It is supposed that Siam gamboge is obtained from this 

 tiv.-. also that known as Ceylon gamboge. The juice is collected by incis- 

 ing the stems, or by breaking young twigs of the tree and securing the 

 yellow gum resinous exudations in hollow bamboos, where it is allowed to 

 harden. It is employed by artists in water colors and as a varnish for 

 lacquer work. 



21.">. GARCINIA PICTORIA. A fatty matter known as gamboge butter is procured 

 from the seeds of this tree in Mysore. They are pounded in a stone mortar, 

 then boiled till the butter or oil rises to the surface. It is used as a lamp 

 oil, and sometimes in food. 



2 Hi. GARDENIA FLORIDA and GARDENIA RADICANS. Cape Jasmines, so called from 

 a supposition that they were natives of the Cape of Good Hope. The 

 genus belongs to the cinchona family. G. lucida furnishes a fragrant 

 resin somewhat similar to myrrh. The fruit of G. campanulata is used 

 as a cathartic, and also to wash out stains in silks. G. gummifera yields a 

 resin something like Elemi. 



217. GASTROLOBITJM BILOBIUM. A leguminous plant, having poisonous proper- 



ties. In western Australia, where it is a native, farmers often lose their 

 cattle through their eating the foliage. Cats and dogs that eat the flesh of 

 these poisoned cattle are also poisoned. G. obtusum and G. spitiosum 

 possess similar properties. 



218. GENIPA AMERICANA. This belongs to the cinchona family, and produces the 



fruit called genipap or marmalade box. It is about the size of an orange, 

 and has an agreeable flavor. The juice of the fruit yields a bluish-black 

 dye, called Canito or Lana-dye. This color is very permanent, and is much 

 used by Indians in South America. 



219. GEONOMA SCHOTTIANA. A pretty Brazilian palm; the leaves are used for 



thatching huts, and other parts of the plant are utilized. 



220. GOUANIA DOMINGENSIS. A plant of the buckthorn family, known in Jamaica 



as Chaw-Stick, on account of its thin branches being chewed as an agree- 

 able stomachic. Tooth brushes are made by cutting pieces of the stem to 

 convenient lengths and fraying out the ends. A tooth powder is prepared 

 by pulverizing the dried stems. It is said to possess febrifugal properties, 

 and owing to its pleasant bitter taste it is used for flavoring cooling beverages. 



221. GREVILLEA ROBUSTA. The silk oak tree of Australia; a tree that attains a 



large size, and is remarkable for the graceful beauty of its foliage. 



222. GREWIA ASIATICA. This Indian tree represents a genus of plants of consider- 



able economic value. This particular species yields a profusion of small red 

 fruits which are used for flavoring drinks, having a pleasant acid flavor. 

 The fibrous inner bark is employed by the natives for making fishing nets, 

 ropes, twine, and for other similar purposes. 



223. GRIAS CAULIFLORA. The anchovy pear of Jamaica. The fruit is pickled and 



eaten like the mango, having a similar taste. 



224. GUAIACUM OFFICINALE. The wood of this tree is called Lignum Vitae. A 



resin, called gum guaiacum, exudes frorh the stem, and is otherwise ob- 

 tained from the wood by artificial means. It is of a greenish-brown color, 



