146 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES CUSTARD 



Custard Apple {Anona reticulata), a tree of the Anona 

 family (Anonace^e), native of the West Indies and tropical 

 America, where it is cultivated for its fruit. Its habit of 

 growth is like that of a standard peach-tree, but taller. In 

 shape its fruit is like a bullock's heart, a name by which it is 

 sometimes known. Its pulp is yellowish white, containing 

 many seeds of an agreeable flavour, but somewhat gritty if 

 gathered too soon. 



Cycas, a genus of the Cycad family (Cycadaceae), of which 

 there are several species. The best known is Cycas revohita, 

 said to be a native of China and Japan, but common in many 

 countries, even found in New Guinea. It was introduced in 

 1737, and its palm-like appearance has caused it to become a 

 favourite ornamental plant, its tliick cylindrical stem often 

 -attaining the height, according to age, of 3 to 4 feet. It is now 

 •common in the West Indies and many parts of America. The 

 pith of the stem contains a kind of sago, which has led to its 

 iDcing called the Sago Palm. Another species {C. circinalis) 

 is abundant in Malabar and many other parts of India, as well 

 as in the Moluccas, Malay, and other islands. It is a taller and 

 more slender-stemmed species than the preceding, attaining the 

 height of 20 feet, and sometimes forked. In New Ireland the 

 natives make use of the nutty seeds for food. 



Cyperus, the name of an extensive genus, consisting of 

 several hundred species, the type of the Sedge family 

 (Cyperace?e). They are annual or perennial grass-like plants, 

 growing in tufts, having harsh sharp-edged sheatliing leaves, and 

 generally three-sided flower-stalks, varying from a few inches 

 to 5 or 6 feet in height ; flowers consist of imbricated glumes or 

 branched spikelets. They are common throughout the tropical 

 and sub- tropical regions of both hemispheres. Two are natives 

 of this country, C. fuscus and C. longus. Both are rare ; the 

 latter is sweet-scented, and known by the name of English 

 Galingale. 



The roots of several species produce fleshy tubers, which 

 form articles of food in different countries, being especially 



