STURTEVANT S NOTES ON EDIBLE PLANTS 523 



S. senegalensis Poir. cherry of Senegal. 



Tropical Africa. The pxJp of its fruit is edible but the seeds are poisonous.* 



Sapium indicum Willd. Euphorbiaceae. 



East Indies. The young fruit is acid and is eaten as a condiment while at the same 

 time the fruit is one of the ingredients used for poisoning alligators.'' 



Sarcocephalus esculentus Afzel. Rubiaceae. 



Tropi^l Africa. Sabine' says the plant bears a large, fleshy fruit of the size of a 

 peach, with a brown and granulated surface. The core is solid and rather hard but edible, 

 much resembling the center of a pineapple in substance. The surrounding flesh is softish, 

 full of small seeds and, in consistence and flavor, much resembles a strawberry. 



Sarcostemma brevistigma Wight & Am. Asdepiadeae. 



East Indies and Burma. Royle * says this plant >delds a milky juice of an acid nature, 

 which is taken by the natives of India to quench thirst. 



S. forskalianum Schult. 



Arabia. The young shoots are eaten.* 



S. intermedium Decne. 



East Indies. Wight ^ says the young, succxilent branches yield a large quantity 

 of mild, milky, acid juice, which the natives suck to allay thirst or eat as a sort of 

 salad. 



S. stipitaceum Schult. 



Arabia. The young shoots are eaten.'' 



Sassafras officinale Nees & Eberm. Laurineae. sassafras. 



Eastern United States. The dried leaves are much used as an ingredient in soups, 

 for which they are well adapted by the abundance of mucilage they contain.' For this 

 purpose, the mature, green leaves are dried and powdered, the stringy portions being 

 separated, and are sifted and preserved for use. This preparation, mixed with soups, gives 

 them a ropy consistence and a peculiar flavor much relished by those accustomed to it. 

 To such soups are given the names of gombo file or gombo zab. Rafinesque ' says it is called 

 gombo sassafras. In Pennsylvania, says Kalm,"'the flowers of sassafras are gathered and 

 used as a tea. Sassafras tea, mixed with milk and sugar, says Masters," forms the drink. 



'Smith, A. Treas. Bot. 2:1017. 1870. 



' Black, A. A. Treas. Bot. 2: 1018. 1870. 



' Sabine, J. Trans. Horl. Soc. Land. $:^2. 1824. Fig. 



Royle, J. F. Illustr. Bot. Himal. 1:27^. 1839. 

 'Seemann, B. Treas. Bot. 2:1021. 1870. 



Wight, R. lUuslr. Ind. Bot. 2: 167. 1850. (5. viminale) 

 ' Seemann, B. Treas. Bot. 2:1021. 1870. 



' Emerson, G. B. Trees, Shrubs Mass. 2:^62. 1875. 



Rafinesque, C. S. Ft. La. 26. 181 7. (Laurus sassafras) 



" Kalm, P. Trav. No. Amer. j:ii$. 1772. (Laurus sassafras) 

 " Masters, M. T. Treas. Bot. 2:1023. 1870. 



