150 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES DA^DVIAR 



4. D. ohtusa, native of !N"ew Hebrides ; 



5. D. Moorii, native of New Caledonia ; 



6. D. Tobusta, native of Queensland, — are similar to the 

 preceding. 



Dammar, Indian, is the produce of different species of the 

 family Dipterocarpacese, one of which is Hopea micrantlia, a tall 

 tree native of Borneo. {See Wood Oil.) And in Malabar 

 Canctrium strictum, a tree of the Myrrh family (AmyridaceaB), 

 produces a resin known as Black Dammar. 



Damson. {See Plum.) 



Danchi, or Dhunchi, in India the name of a fibre obtained 

 from Seshania aculeata. A slender pricldy-stemmed annual of 

 the Bean family (Leguminos?e), having winged leaves formed 

 of numerous leaflets, which in some degree partake of the nature 

 of the sensitive plant. In India it is cultivated for its fibre, 

 which, although rough, is strong, and lasts a long time under 

 water. It is also cultivated in some parts of tropical America. 



Dandelion {Taraxacum officinale), a perennial plant of 

 the Composite family (Compositce), having spreading lanceolate 

 sinuous leaves rising from a tap root in the form of a rosette, 

 producing single yellow flowers on a hollow stalk. A native 

 of and a common weed in this country, also widely spread 

 throughout the northern hemisphere. It is held in repute for 

 its medical properties, its roots being a powerful diuretic, and by 

 some they are used with coffee instead of chicory. Its leaves 

 are bitter and tonic, and used as a salad like endive. It takes 

 its name from Dent-de-lion, or lion's tooth, from the leaves 

 being su]3posed to resemble the teeth of a lion. 



Danewort, also called Dwarf Elder {Samlucus Ubulus), a 

 strong-growing perennial herb of the Woodbine family (Capri- 

 foliaceae), native of this country, growing in copses and margins 

 of woods, but not common. It grows to a height of 2 to 2 J 

 feet ; its flowers are purple, in cymes. It has leaves and black 

 berries like the common elder, but nauseous and fetid. There 

 is a superstition attached to it, that it sprang originally from 

 the blood of Danes slain in battle. 



