sturtevant's notes on edible plants 63 



says the Japanese cultivate the root, but as an article of food it is tasteless, hard and 

 fibrous. 



Arctostaphylos alpina Spreng. Ericaceae, alpine bearberry. 



Arctic regions and mountain svunmits farther south. The berries are eaten in Lap- 

 land but are a mawkish food, according to Linnaeus.^ Richardson " says there are two 

 varieties, that both are eaten in the autumn and, though not equal to some of the other 

 native fruits, are not unpleasant. They are called amprick by the Russians at the mouth 

 of the Obi. 



A. glauca Lindl. manzanita. 



CaHfornia. The fruit grows in clusters, is first white, then red and finally black. 

 This berry is regarded as eatable but is dry and of little flavor.' 



A. tomentosa Lindl. manzanita 



Southern California. The red berries are used by the Spanish inhabitants of Texas 

 to make a cooling, subacid drink. The fruit is used when not quite ripe as a tart apple. 

 Dried and made into bread and baked in the sun, the fruit is relished by the Indians.* 



A. uva-ursi Spreng. bearberry. bear's grape, brawlins. creashak. mountain 



BOX. 



North America and Arctic regions. The Chinook Indians mix its dried leaves with 

 tobacco. It is used for the same piupose by the Crees who call it tchakoshe-pukk; by the 

 Chippewaians, who name it kleh; and by the Eskimos north of Churchill, by whom it is 

 termed at-tung-a-wi-at. It is the iss-salth of the Chinooks.^ Its dry, farinaceous berry 

 is utterly inedible.' 



Ardisia coriacea Sw. Myrsineae. beef-wood. 



West Indies. According to Sloane,' the drupes are eaten in Jamaica and are accounted 

 a pleasant dessert. 



A. esculenta Pav. 



South America. The berries are esculent.' 



Areca catechu Linn. Palmae. areca nut. betel nut. catechu, pinang. 



East Indies. This handsome palm is cultivated throughout the Indian Archipelago, 

 in Ceylon and the west side of India for the sake of its seed which is known under the 

 names areca nut, pinang and betel nut ; the nut is about the size of a nutmeg. These nuts 

 are consumed, when dry, in great quantity, a small portion being separated, put into a 



> Don, G. Hist. Dichl. Pis. 3:836. 1834. 

 ' Richardson, J. Arctic Explor. 2:303. 1851. 



Newberry PaciJU R. R. Rpt. 6:22. 1857. 

 *U.S. D.A.Rpt.\\2,. 1870. 



' Hooker, W. J. Fl. Bor. Amer. 2:37. 1840. 



Richardson, J. Arctic Explor. 2:30. 1851. 

 ' Nuttall, T. No. Amer. Sylva 2: 134. 1865. 

 Don, G. Hist. Dichl. Pis. ^-.v). 1838. 



