32 



Canary Islands and Madeira. Some of these plantations contain fifty thou- 

 sand plants. Cochineal forms the finest carmine scarlet dye, and at least 

 there are 2,000 tons of it produced yearly, in value worth $2,000 per ton. 



318. OPUNTIA TUNA. This plant is a native of Mexico and South America gener- 



ally. It reaches a height of 15 to 20 feet and bears reddish-colored flowers, 

 followed by pear-shaped fleshy fruits 2 or 3 inches long, and of a rich car- 

 mine color when ripe. It is cultivated for rearing the cochineal insect. 

 The fruits are sweet and juicy; sugar has been made from them. The juice 

 is used as a water-color and for coloring confectionery. 



319. OREODAPHNE CALIFORNICA. The mountain laurel, or spice bush, of Califor- 



nia. When bruised it emits a strong, spicy odor, and the Spanish Ameri- 

 cans use the leaves as a condiment. 



320. OREODOXAOLERACEA. The West Indian cabbage palm, which sometimes at- 



tains the height of 170 feet, with a straight cylindrical trunk. The semicyl- 

 indrical portions of the leaf -stalk are formed into cradles for children, or 

 made into splints for fractures. Their inside skin, peeled off while green, 

 and dried, looks like vellum, and can be written upon. The heart of young 

 leaves, or cabbage, is boiled as a vegetable or pickled, and the pith affords 

 sago. Oil is obtained from the fruit. 



321. ORMOSIA DASYCARPA. This is the West Indian bead tree, or necklace tree, 



the seeds of which are roundish, beautifully polished, and of a bright scarlet 

 color, with a black spot at one end resembling beads, for which they are sub- 

 stitutes, being made into necklaces, bracelets, or mounted in silver for studs 

 and buttons. It is a leguminose plant. 



322. OSMANTHUS FRAGRANS. This plant has long heen cultivated as Olea Fragrans. 



The flowers have a fine fragrance, and are used by the Chinese to perfume 

 tea. It appears that they consider the leaves also valuable, for they are 

 frequently found in what is expected to be genuine tea. 



323. PACHIRA ALBA. A South American tree the inner bark of which furnishes a 



strong useful fiber, employed in the manufacture of ropes and various kinds 

 of cordage. The petals of the flowers are covered with a soft silky down 

 which is used for stuffing cushions and pillows. 



324. PANDANUS UTILIS. The screw pine of the Mauritius, where it is largely cul- 



tivated for its leaves, which are manufactured into bags or sacks for the 

 exportation of sugar. They are also used for making other domestic vessels 

 and for tying purposes. 



325. PAPPEA CAPENSIS. A small tree of the soapberry or sapindaceous family, 



a native of the Cape of Good Hope, where the fruit is known as the wild 

 plum, from the pulp of which a vinous beverage and excellent vinegar are 

 prepared, and an eatable, though slightly purgative, oil is extracted from 

 the seeds. The oil is also strongly recommended for baldness and scalp 

 affections. 



826. PAPYRUS ANTIQUORUM. The paper-reed of Asia, which yielded the substances 

 used as paper by the ancient Egyptians. The underground root-stocks 

 spread horizontally under the muddy soil, continuing to throw up stems as 

 they creep along. The paper was made from thin slices, cut vertically from 

 the apex to the base of the stem, between its surface and center. The slices 

 were placed side by side, according to the size required, and then, after 

 being wetted and beaten with a wooden instrument until smooth, were 

 pressed and dried in the sun. 



327. PARITIUM ELATUM. The mountain mahoe, a malvaceous plant, that furnishes 

 the beautiful lace-like bark called Cuba bast, imported by nurserymen for 

 tying their plants. It was at one time only seen as employed in tying 

 together bundles of genuine Havana cigars. It forms a tree 40 feet or more 

 in height, and yields a greenish-blue timber, highly prized by cabinet- 

 makers. 



828, PARKIA .AFRICANA. The African locust tree, producing seeds which the natives 

 of Soudan roast, and then bruise and allow to ferment in water until they 

 become putrid, when they are carefully washed, pounded into powder, and 

 made into cakes, which are said to be excellent, though having a very 

 unpleasant smell. The pulp surrounding the seeds is made into a sweet 

 farinaceous preparation, 



