STURTEV ant's NOTES ON EDIBLE PLANTS 75 



A. gummifer Labill. 



Syria. This is another species suppljang a source of tragacanth.^ 

 A. hamosus Linn. 



Mediterranean region to India. The plant is grown particularly on account of the 

 singularity of its fruits which, before maturity, resemble certain worms. They are of 

 a mediocre taste but are employed in salads chiefly to cause an innocent surprise.^ 

 A. kurdicus Boiss. 



Kurdistan and Syria. The plant affords tragacanth.' 

 A. leioclados Boiss. 



Persia. Tragacanth is produced by this plant.* 

 A. mexicanus A. DC. 



Open plains and prairies from Illinois westward and southward. The unripe fruits 

 are edible and are eaten raw or cooked by travelers.' 



Astrocaryum acaule Mart. Palmae. 



Brazil. This is a palm of the Rio Negro. The fniit is edible.* 

 A. murumura Mart, murumura. 



A palm of the Brazilian forest. The fruit, according to Kunth, has an agreeable 

 flavor and at first a scent resembling musk but afterwards that of a melon. Wallace 

 states that the fleshy covering of the fruit is rather juicy and is eatable.' 

 A. tucuma Mart. 



Upper Amazon and Rio Negro. The fleshy part of the fruit is esteemed for food 

 by the Indians.* The yellowish, fibrous pulp is eaten by the natives.' 



Astronia papetaria Bliune. Melastomaceae. 



A tree of the Moluccas. Its subacid leaves are cooked as a sauce for fish.'" 



Athamanta cervariaefolia DC. Umbelliferae. spignel. 

 Tenerifle Islands. The root is said to be eaten." 



A. cretensis Linn, candy carrot. 



Southern Europe. An agreeable liquor is made from the seeds. 



A. matthioli Wulf. 



Southeastern Europe. The plant has an edible root.'^ 



> Treas. Bol. 106. 1870. 



' Vilmorin Veg. Card. 510, 511. 1885. 



' Fluckiger and Hanbury Pharm. 174. 1879. 



< Ibid. 



Gray, A. Man. Bot. 132. 1868. 



Seemann, B. Pop. Hist. Palms 74. 1856. 

 ' Ibid. 



Seemann, B. Pop. Hist. Palms y^. 1856. 



Bates, H. W. Nat. Amaz. 647. 1879. Humboldt Libr. Set. 

 " Syrae, J. T. Treas. Bot. 1:106. 1870. 



"Baillon, H. Hist. Pis. 7:192. 1881. 

 " Ibid. 



