244 DICTIONAEY OF POPULAR NAMES LEVER 



milky juice, wliicli abounds greatly in the wild species (Z. virosa), 

 native of this country, resembles opium in its properties. A 

 recent instance occurred (July 1879) of the death of a man at 

 Liverpool — it is supposed from eating Lettuce. A post-mortejji 

 examination showed that death had resulted from apoplexy, 

 which was induced from the quantity of opium contained in the 

 Lettuce. 



Lever-wood. (See Ironwood.) 



Libidibi. (See Divi Divi.) 



Lichen, Lichenes, names of one of the orders of the class 

 Cryptogamia of Linnaeus, of which there are about 2500 species 

 described ; the greater part of these grow on old walls, stones, 

 rocks, and trees, or on plains and mountains. A few only are 

 of economic importance, such as Iceland and Eeindeer Moss, 

 Orchil and Cudbear (which see). 



Lignum Rhodium. (See Oil of PJiodium.) 



Lignum Vitae (Guaiacum officinale), a small tree of the 

 Bean-caper family (Zygophyllaceae), rising to a height of 20 to 

 30 feet, having a round head of stiff branches and conjugate 

 winged leaves, the whole of a yellowish tinge, and producing 

 clusters of pretty blue flowers like Hejjatica. It is a native of 

 Jamaica and other West Indian Islands and of parts of tropical 

 America. The wood is extremely hard ; although of small size, it 

 is of great importance, and is extensively used in the dockyards, 

 its hardness making it well suited for pulleys and the bearings 

 of steam machinery, as well as for pestles and rulers. It 

 contains a resin known as Gum Guaiacum, which has long been 

 in use as a medicine, especially in rheumatic afl'ections. Gum 

 Guaiacum is also produced by G. sa7ictitm. 



Lilac, Common (Syringa xidgai'is)^ a bushy erect shrub of 

 the Olive family (Oleaceee), native of Persia, recorded to have 

 been introduced into this country about 300 years ago, and has 

 become one of the most common ornamental shrubs. There are 

 several varieties, the principal being blue and white. 



Lilac, Persian (>S^. jpersica), native of Persia, introduced 

 about 240 years ago. It differs from the preceding in its 



