194 STURTEV ant's NOTES ON EDIBLE PLANTS 



is derived from Abellina in Asia, supposed to be the valley of Damascus. Pliny ' adds 

 that it had been brought into Greece from Pontus, hence it was also called nux pontica. 

 The nut was called by Theophrastus, heraclotic nuts, from Heraclea now Ponderachi 

 on the Asiatic shore of the Black Sea. These ixames probably refer to particular varie- 

 ties as the species is common in Europe and adjoining Asia. In Peacham's' Emblems, 

 we find it stated that the name filbert is derived from Philibert, a king of France, who 

 " caused by arte sundry kinds to be brought forth." There are a number of varieties. 

 The best nuts come from Spain and are known as Barcelona nuts. Cobnuts and filberts 

 are largely grown in Kent, England. In Kazan, Russia, the nuts are so plentiful that 

 an oil used as food is expressed from them. Filberts were among the seeds mentioned 

 in the Memorandimi ' of Mar. i6, 1629, to be sent to the Massachusetts Company and 

 are now to be occasionally foimd in gardens in Virginia and elsewhere. 



C. columa Liim. cobnut. v 



Eastern Europe, Asia Minor and Himalayan region. This plant furnishes the 

 imported cobnuts of Britain. The kernels form an important article of food in some 

 parts of the hills of India.'' The nuts are known in England as cobnuts or Turkish nuts. 

 This tree was carried from Pontus to Macedonia and Thrace and has been distributed 

 throughout Italy. It was brought to Germany in the sixteenth century.' 



C. ferox Wall. 



Himalayan region. This species bears a small, thick-shelled nut, in taste like the 

 common hazel. 



C. rostrata Ait. beaked hazelnut. 



Northeastern America. The plant bears a well-flavored nut. 



C. tubulosa Willd. Lambert's nut. lombardy-nut. 



Asia Minor and Southern Europe. This species furnishes the Lombardy, or Lam- 

 bert's nut. 



Corynocarpus laevigata Forst. Anacardiaceae. new Zealand laurel. 



New Zealand. The pulp of the drupe of this tree is edible, but the embryo is con- 

 sidered poisonous until steeped in salt water. Bennett ' says it is valued for its fruit and 

 seeds, the former of the size of a plum, pulpy in the interior and sweet. The seeds are 

 used in times of scarcity and contain a tasteless, farinaceous substance. The new seeds 

 are, however, poisonous until steamed for a day and soaked. 



Corj^ha gebanga Bliime. Palmae. gebang palm. 



Malay. The pithy substance of the trunk yields a sort of sago.' 



' Thompson, R. Treas. Bot. 1:336. 1870. 

 Disraeli Curios. Lit. 2:332. 1858. Note. 



Mass. Records i :24. 



* Brandis, D. Forest Fl. 494. 1876. 



' Unger, F. U. S. Pat. Off. Rpt. 321. 1859. 

 Bennett, G. Gath. Nat. Austral. 346. i860. 

 'Seemann, B. Pop. Hist. Palms 187. 1856. 



