BAMBOO OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 35 



incense in Eoman Catholic churches. C. grandiflova, a native of 

 Surinam, has leathery leaves 7 inches to a foot long, and beautiful 

 wliite flowers 5 to 6 inches in diameter. C. insignis, a native of 

 Brazil, has smaller flowers than the preceding; a quantity of 

 resin exudes from the disc of the flowers and stamens, which is 

 mixed with the butter of the chocolate nut, and used medicinally 

 by the women of Brazil as an external application to sores. 



Bamboo, a general name for a tribe of grasses termed 

 Bamhusacece, of which there are 20 genera, comprehending 170 

 species. They are widely spread, chiefly in the tropics and 

 sub-tropics of both hemispheres. The greater number are found 

 in the continent of India and Malayan Islands, America and 

 West Indian Islands, a few only in Africa, and none in Europe. 

 They consist of strong-rooted perennial plants with jointed 

 hollow stems, rarely solid and varying greatly in size, some being 

 reed-like, others with stout cane-like stems varying from 20 to 100 

 or more feet in height, terminating with branches furnished with 

 grass-like leaves of various forms and sizes. A few of the small- 

 growing species, such as Artmdinaria japonica and A. falcata, 

 are sufficiently hardy to grow in the open air in this country. 



Bamboo Blowpipe of the Indians of the Orinoco and 

 Amazon {ArtlirostylidmmScliombiLrghii), a native of Guiana and 

 of the head waters of the Orinoco and Amazon. It attains the 

 height of 50 to 60 feet, with a diameter of IJ inches, and in 

 general appearance is similar to the common Bamboo, but differs 

 in the lower part of the stem, for about 15 or 16 feet, having no 

 joints, and so producing a continuous, smooth, hollow tube, 

 which forms the blowpipe, or what may properly be called the 

 rifle of the Indians. The natives use it by simply placing a 

 poisoned arrow in the tube, and with a strong puff" from the 

 mouth, the arrow, with unerring aim, strikes the bird or any 

 other object pomted at. The bird or animal struck speedily 

 dies, but the flesh is not rendered unwholesome. The pipes are 

 much valued as heirlooms. They are known to the natives as 

 " Sarbicans." 



Bamboo, Common {Banibusa vulgaris). — This is quite a cos- 



