GLASSWORT OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 193 



dance, is dry and farinaceous, and of an insipid taste ; neverthe- 

 less, it is much esteemed by the negroes. Another species is 

 P. laurinum, a tree 50 feet high, native of the Fiji Islands, 

 where it is called Makita. It yields a perfume much used for 

 scenting oil. In the time of paganism the leaves of this plant, 

 with the fronds of Acrostichiim aitreum, were used for thatching 

 the roofs and sides of the heathen temples. 



Ginger Grass (Andropogon Nardus), an Indian grass, similar 

 in habit to A. Calamus aromaticus, before mentioned. It yields 

 an essential oil, smelling strongly of ginger, used in j)erfumery 

 and medicinally by Indian doctors. 



Gingilie Oil, a name in India for an oil obtained from Sesa- 

 mum indicum, an annual herb of the Pedaliad family (Pedalinea), 

 native of India, where it is extensively cultivated for its seeds, 

 which yield an oil similar to olive oil, for which it may be 

 substituted, and with which it is frequently adulterated. 



Ginkgo Tree. {See Maidenhair Tree.) 



Ginseng {Panax Seliinseng), a low perennial herb of the Ivy 

 family (Araliacefe), with forked conical roots ; producing pal- 

 mate leaves from a sheathing foot-stalk, bearing umbellate green 

 flowers ; a native of Manchuria, IsTorth China, but its great use 

 as a medicine in China has caused it to become scarce. The 

 Chinese fancy the forked root resembles the human form, and 

 consider that it wards off* all diseases. It consequently has an 

 enormous value with them. It is slightly bitter and aromatic, 

 but of no repute with European doctors. Its scarcity has led to 

 P. qidnquefolmm, an allied species, native of North America, 

 being substituted for it, large quantities being exported to China 

 from New York. 



Glasswort {Salicomia herhacea), a succulent, jointed stemmed 

 plant of the Spinach family (Chenopodiacece), native of the 

 muddy sea-shores of this country. It grows to a height of 6 

 or more inches ; the stems make a very good pickle. 



Salsola Kali and S. Soda are branching annual plants, 

 having succulent almost leafless stems, growing to the height of 

 1 or 2 feet, and found abundantly on the sandy sea-shores of 



o 



