388 STURTEV ant's notes on edible plants 



N. sativa Linn, black cumin, fennel flower, nigella. nutmeg flower, roman 



CORIANDER. 



East Mediterranean and Taurus-Caspian countries and cultivated in various parts 

 of the world. The seeds are employed in some parts of Germany, France and Asia as 

 a condiment. In eastern countries they are commonly used for seasoning curries and other 

 dishes, and the Egyptians spread them on bread and put them on cakes like comfits.' 

 The seeds, on account of their aromatic nature, are employed as a spice in cooking, 

 particularly in Italy and southern France.* This plant is supposed to be the gith of 

 Columella and Pliny, in the first century; of Palladius, in the third and of Charlemagne, 

 in the ninth. The melanthion of Coltmiella, in the first century, seems a descriptive name 

 for his gith. Black cvmiin finds mention as cultivated in most of the botanies of the six- 

 teenth and seventeenth centuries; is recorded by Vilmorin ' among plants of the garden, 

 as also by Burr * in 1863; and is now found in the lists of some of our seedsmen.* 



Nipa fruticans Thunb. Palmae. nipa. 



Eastern portion of tht Malayan Archipelago. The spathe is convertible into syrup, 

 sugar, vinegar, yeast and strong spirit.' The pulpy kernels are used for making sweetmeats.' 



Nitraria schoberi Linn. Zygophylleae. nitre-bush. 



Russia, north Asia and Australia. The plant produces a fruit of the size of an olive, 

 of a red color and agreeable flavor, much relished by the natives.* The berries, though 

 saltish and insipid, are eaten in the Caspian district. 



N. tridentata Desf. lotus tree. 



Syria, north Africa and the tropics. This has been supposed, says Masters,'" to be 

 the true lotus tree of the ancients. 



Noronhia emarginata Thou. Oleaceae. 



A shrub of Madagascar. The plant is now, according to Hooker," cultivated in the 

 Maiuitius where the pulp of the fruit is esculent. 



Nothoscordum fragrans Kunth. Liliaceae. 



Africa, MauritiuF, North America and Mexico. The Jews of Jamaica use this plant 

 as a garlic to season smoked sausage.'* 



' Smith, A. Treas. Bot. 2:ygo. 1870. 

 'Noisette Man. Sard. 2:447. i860. 

 ' Vilmorin Lej. Pis. Fo/ag. 374. 1883. 

 * Burr, F. Field, Card. Keg. 429. 1863. 

 'Vick Car. 1884. 



Seemann, B. Pop. Hist. Palms 269. 1856. 

 ' Ainslie, W. Ma*. Ind. 453. 1826. {Cocos nypa) 

 Masters, M. T. Treas. Bot. 2:791. 1870. {N. billardieri) 

 'Gmelin. J. G. Fl. Sibir. 2:237. I747~i769. 

 ' Masters, M. T. Treas. Bot. 2:791. 1870. 

 " Hooker, W. J. Bot. Misc. 2:167. 1831. 

 " Titford, W. J. Hort. Bot. Amer. 55. 1812. 



