STURTEVANT S NOTES ON EDIBLE PLANTS 97 



flowers are sometimes prepared as food by the Chinese. ' The tree is called god-tree in 

 the West Indies, where it is native. 



B. malabarictim DC. cotton tree. 



East Indies, Malay and China. The calyx of the flower-bud is eaten as a vegetable.^ 



B. septenatum Jacq. 



Tropical America. The plant furnishes a green vegetable.' 



Bongardia rauwolfii C. A. Mey. Berberideae. 



Greece and the Orient. This plant was noticed as early as 1573 by Rauwolf, who 

 spoke of it as the true chrysogomum of Dioscorides. The Persians roast or boil the tubers 

 and use them as food, while the leaves are eaten as are those of sorrel.^ 



Boottia cord'ata Wall. Hydrocharideae. 



A water plant of Burma. All the green parts are eaten by the Burmese as pot-herbs, 

 for which purpose they are collected in great quantity and carried to the market at Ava.^ 



Boquila trifoliata Decne. Berberideae. 



Chile. The berries, about the size of a pea, are eaten in Chile. ^ It is commonly 

 called in Chile, baquil-blianca. 



Borago officinalis Linn. Boragineae. borage, cool-tankard, talewort. 



Europe, North Africa and Asia Minor. This plant has been distributed throughout 

 the whole of southern and middle Etirope even in the humblest gardens and is now culti- 

 vated likewise in India, North America and Chile. Its leaves and flowers were used by 

 the ancient Greeks and Romans for cool tankards. The Greeks called it euphrosynon, 

 for, when put in a cup of wine, it made those who drank it merry. It has been used in 

 England since the days of Parkinson. In Queen Elizabeth's time, both the leaves and 

 flowers were eaten in salads. It is at present cultivated for use in cooling drinks and is 

 used by some as a- substitute for spinach. The leaves contain so much nitre that when dry 

 they bum like match paper.' The leaves also serve as a garnish and are likewise pickled. 

 In India, it is cultivated by Europeans for use in country beer to give it a pleasant flavor.' 

 Borage is eniimerated by Peter MartjT ^ as among the plants cultivated at Isabela Island 

 by the companions of Columbus. It appears in the catalogs of our American seedsmen 

 and is mentioned by almost all of the earlier writers of gardening. The flowering parts 

 of borage are noted or figiu-ed by nearly all of the ancient herbalists. 



' Williams, S. W. Mid. King. 1:284. 1848. 

 ' Brandis, D. Forest Ft. 21. 1874. 

 ' Unger, F. U. S. Pat. Off. Rpt. 359. 1859. 

 < Black, A. A. Treas. Bot. 1:156. 1870. 

 'Wallich, N. PL Asiat. i:$2. Tab. 65. 1830. 

 Black, A. A. Treas. Bot. 1:157. 1870. 

 ' Mcintosh, C. Book Card. 2:234. 1855. 

 Ainslie, W. Mat. Ind. 2:145. 1826. 

 'Eden Hist. Trav. 18. 1577. 



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