FUSTIC OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 187 



fever spores to infect a parish." (N.B. — Most of tlie above will 

 be specially noticed under their respective names, as also others, 

 such as ergot, smut, pepper-brand, etc.) 



Fungus Melitensis (Cynomormm coccineum), a fungus-like 

 plant of the family Balanophorace£e, native of Malta and also 

 found in Northern Africa, the Canary Islands, and Syria. It 

 consists of a fleshy flower-stem, about a foot m height, of a red 

 colour. It was originally much valued for its medicinal 

 virtues, and at Malta, when it first became known, it was 

 specially guarded by a military sentinel, and persons appointed 

 to collect it. In some parts, as the Island of Lancerrotta, it 

 is eaten by the natives, and as it grows on the roots of Spartium 

 monosjoermicm (the juniper of Scripture), may explain the passage 

 in Job, "juniper roots for their meat." 



Fungus, New Zealand. (See Jew's Ear.) 



Furze, Gorse, Whins, common names for Ulex eurojpceus, a 

 spiny, almost leafless shrub of the Bean family (Leguminosce), 

 occupying commons and mountain slopes in Scotland and 

 this country, more abundantly in the south. Its most im- 

 portant economical uses are for firewood and as fodder for 

 cattle and horses ; for the latter purpose it is crushed between 

 rollers. There is a variety having no prickles, which does not 

 need crushing. Its golden flowers form a beautiful sight, espe- 

 cially when seen on distant hills, and they impart an odour to 

 the air in the vicinity of furze brakes. It has become naturalised 

 in the mountains in Jamaica, where it forms a small tree. 



Fustic, a name given to certain yellow woods employed in 

 dyeing — 1. Madura tindoria, a large tree of the Mulberry 

 family (Moraceas), native of the West Indies and tropical 

 America. 2. Rhus Cotinus, a bushy shrub of the Cashew Nut 

 family (Anacardiaceae), native of Southern Europe, having simple 

 shining roundish leaves. Its flowers are in globose heads, which 

 become white and feathery, giving the idea of a head of white hair, 

 hence the name Wig -tree by which it is sometimes known. 

 It is used for dyeing, and is called in trade Young Fustic to 

 distinguish it from Madura. The yellow wood of several species 



