GUAVA OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 201 



Gru-Gru Palm. {See Macaw Palm.) 



Guaco (Mikania Guaco), an opposite -leaved climber of the 

 Composite family (Compositse), having numerous flower-heads, 

 each consisting of only four florets. It is common throughout 

 tropical America, and is famed as a cure for snake-bites. The 

 name Guaco is also applied to species of Aristolochia (see Birth- 

 wort) and other climbing plants, which are likewise believed 

 to cure snake-bites. Although this has been known since the 

 time of Humboldt, there has, however, not been much evidence 

 in proof of its efiicacy ; but in a recent communication to Sir 

 Joseph Hooker from Mr. White, who has resided loug in New 

 Grenada, he says that when quickly and properly applied, both 

 inwardly and outwardly, it is known to prevent fatal results. 



Guarana, the name of a substance in Brazil prepared from 

 the seeds of Paullmia sorbilis, a strong -growing, wing -leaved 

 climber of the Soapberry family (Sapindacea^), native of Brazil, 

 principally the region of the Amazon. The fruit is a pear- 

 shaped, three -sided, three -celled capsule, each cell containing a 

 solitary seed, half enveloped in a somewhat thick aril. The 

 Indians pound the seeds to a meal, which they make into a 

 paste. It is formed into rolls, and when dried becomes hard, 

 and of a dark colour, resembling large sausages. Under the 

 name of Guarana these rolls form an important article of trade 

 to all parts of Brazil. A beverage is prepared by grating about 

 a tablespoonful of the substance from a roll, and placing it in 

 about half a pint of sugar and water. It is greatly used by 

 those employed in laborious work, especially by miners. Its 

 virtue consists in its containing a stimulating principle having 

 properties similar to the theine in tea. 



Guava, the name of the fruit of several species of Psiclmm, 

 a genus of the Myrtle family (JMyrtaceoe), native of the West 

 Indies and tropical America. They are small-sized trees. 



Psidium Guaiava, with the varieties P. 'pomiferum and P. 

 pyriferum, are universally cultivated in most tropical countries. 

 The chief difference is in the shape of their fruits, one being- 

 apple and the other pear shaped, of a yellow colour outside, and 



