STURTEVANT S NOTES ON EDIBLE PLANTS 99 



B. serrata Roxb. frankincense tree. 



India. In times of famine, the Khnoods and Woodias live on a soup made from 

 the fruit of- this tree.^ 



Botrychium virginianum Swartz. Ophioglassaceae. rattlesnake fern. 



This large, succulent fern is boiled and eaten in the Himalayas as well as in New 

 Zealand. 



Boucerosia incamata N. E. Br. Asclepiadeae. 



South Africa. The Hottentots eat it, says Thunberg,* after peeling off the edges 

 and prickles. 



Bouea burmanica Griff. Anacardiaceae. 



Burma. The fruit is eaten, that of one variety being intensely sour, of another insipidly 

 sweet.' 



Bourreria succulenta Jacq. Boragineae. currant tree. 



West Indies. The berries are the size of a pea, shining, saffron or orange-colored, 

 piilpy, sweet, succulent and eatable.^ 



Brabejum stellatifolium Liim. Proteaceae. wild chestnut. 



South Africa. Thunberg ' says the Hottentots eat the fruit of this shrub and that 

 it is sometimes used by the coimtry people instead of coffee, the outside rind being taken 

 off and the fruit steeped in water to deprive it of its bitterness; it is then boiled, roasted 

 and ground like coffee. 



Brachistus solanaceus Benth. & Hook. f. Solanaceae. 



Nicaragua. This perennial merits trial culture on account of its large, edible tubers.^ 



Brachystegia appendiculata Benth. Leguminosae. 

 Tropical Africa. The seeds are eaten.' 



Brachystelma sp. ? Asclepiadeae. 



South Africa. This genus furnishes edible roots in South Africa and those of some 

 species are esteemed as a preserve by the Dutch inhabitants.^ 



Brahea dulcis Mart. Palmae. 



Peru. This Mexican palm, called palma duke and soyale, has a fruit which is a succulent 

 drupe of a yellow color and cherry-size, sweet and edible.' 



' Dmry, H. Useful Pis. Ind. 95. 1873. 



* Thunberg, C. P. Trav. 2:1^0. 1796. {Slapeliaincmnata) 



' Pickering, C. Chron. Hist. Pis. 112. 1879. (B. oppositifolia) 

 *Lunan, J. Hort. Jam. 1:255. 1814. 

 ' Thunberg, C. P. Trav. 1:129. 1795. 



Mueller, F. Sel. Pis. 521. 1891. (Witheringia solanacea) 

 'Britten, J. Treas. Bot. 2:1271. 1876. 



Carruthers, W. Treas. Bot. 1:16^. 1870. 

 Seemann, B. Pop. Hist. Palms 126. 1856. 



