CHARA OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 105 



Another species of Plocaria (P. tenax) is also of great im- 

 portance as a food plant to tlie Chinese. It is closely allied to 

 the preceding, and native of the same seas. In the Bay of Siam 

 are caves and precipitous rocks on which the sea-swallows build 

 their glutinous nests, which are made from the fronds of the latter 

 species, and highly prized by the Chinese. The nests are collected 

 at regular seasons of the year, and form an extensive article of 

 commerce with China, and are largely used as food in the pre- 

 paration of soups and jellies ; they are also used as size and gum, 

 and believed to be the chief ingredient of the Chin-Chin glue. 

 In collecting these nests the natives are exposed to many perils 

 in mounting and descending the rocks, and lives are occasionally 

 lost. 



Champaca, a name in India for MicJielia Chamjpaca, a large 

 tree of the Magnolia family (Magnoliacese) ; its flowers are Like 

 an unfolded tulip of a deep yellow colour, and highly fragrant ; 

 they are used to ornament the hair, both of men and women ; the 

 bark is an aromatic bitter tonic, and used medicinally ; it yields 

 the oil called Sumpunghee. An allied species, if. Cathcartii, is 

 a large tree, native of Sikkim ; it is conspicuous in April for its 

 abundance of white blossoms, which in the distance give it the 

 appearance of being covered with snow. 



Champignon. {See Fairy Pdngs.) 



Chanay K^ldngu, a name in India for the tubers of Tacca 

 jpinnatifida ; in Travancore it is cultivated, and grows to a large 

 size, forming an important article of trade. {See Pi.) 



Chara, the name of a genus of the order Algse, of the class 

 Cryptogamia of Linnaeus, and the type of the Limewort family 

 (Characese) of modern botanists. They consist of small fresh- 

 water plants, having articulated stems and branches, which grow 

 in whorls, either transparent or coated with carbonate of lime. 

 The organs of reproduction consist of globose, nut-like bodies of 

 two sizes, covered by spiral tubes, which give them a striated 

 appearance. 



This singular family comprises about thirty described species, 

 found in stagnant water in most parts of the world. They grow 



