CUCUMBER OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 143 



Crocus. {See Saffron.) 



Crocus, Autumn. {See Colcliicum.) 



Crosswood, a name in San Domingo for Jacquinea ruscifolia, 

 a small tree of the Myrsine family (Myrsinaceae), native not 

 only of San Domingo, but also of tropical America. It derives 

 its name Crosswood from the circumstance of its branches 

 being produced in whorls of four, thus forming a cross. It is 

 held in high repute by the natives as a stauncher of blood and 

 internal haemorrhage, and they tell a long story how this pro- 

 perty was discovered. Sir Eobert Schomburgk, however, found 

 its vaunted properties to be wholly imaginary. 



Croton Oil, the name of an oil obtained from Croton tiglmm, 

 a shrub of the Spurge wort family (Euphorbiacese), native of 

 India. The oil is a powerful purgative, and only used in small 

 doses. It is made into pills, for if taken by itself it produces a 

 burning heat in the throat; one drop is sufficient for a pill; 

 when taken in large quantities it acts as a poison, causing 

 symptoms like cholera, and frequently death. 



Crown Imperial {Fritillaria imperialis), a bulb of the Lily 

 family (Liliacese), native of the South of Europe and Western 

 Asia. It was introduced to this country about the end of the 

 sixteenth century. Besides the brown-flowered varieties there 

 is one with pure yellow flowers. Their bulbs contain starch, and 

 in France their cultivation has been attempted as a substitute 

 for the potato. F. Meleagris is a rare British plant, being found 

 only in one or two localities, one of which is the meadows 

 between Kew and Mortlake. It has solitary nodding flowers 

 beautifully chequered with reddish brown. 



Cubebs. {See Pepper.) 



Cuckoo Buds. {See Buttercups.) 



Cucumber {Cucumis sativus), a tendril climber or trailing 

 annual of the Gourd family (Cucurbitacese). According to 

 Bible history, the Cucumber was cultivated in Egypt in the time 

 of Moses, and is still cultivated there, and forms a great part of 

 the food of the people. It is also cultivated in most warm 

 countries, and even in England produces a crop in the open air ; 



