284 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES NARD 



in Palestine, and during the flowering season it is to be found 

 in nearly every house, especially in Damascus. By some this 

 is considered to be the Eose of Sharon, the original Hebrew 

 word Bulb being translated Eose, and indeed a rosebud is 

 something similar to the bulbs of this plant. 

 Nard. {See Spikenard.) 



Nardoo {Marsiha macrojms), a perennial aquatic of the 

 Pepper wort family (Marsileacese), native of Australia ; its leaves 

 are four-lobed, trefoil-like, borne on slender stalks 4 to 6 inches 

 long, on which are produced the spore-cases. It occupies ex- 

 tensive inundated tracts of land, and when dried up the spore- 

 cases are found lying in great abundance like grains of wheat ; 

 they are largely collected and eaten as food by the natives, 

 and for some time constituted the only food to the survivors of 

 the ill-fated Burke and Will's expedition ; but it is devoid of 

 nourishment. It is represented in Eastern Europe by M. 

 quadrifolia. 



Naseberry Tree, a name in the West Indies for Sapota 

 Achras, a large tree of the Star Apple family (Sapotacese), com- 

 mon in the West Indies and tropical America ; its fruit is called 

 Sappodilla Plum ; in shape and size it resembles a bergamot 

 pear ; in colour it is like the medlar, and like it, it is not eaten 

 until it begins to decay ; it then loses its acrid milk, and becomes 

 so sugary that many Euroj)eans consider it too sweet. 



Nasuta, a local Indian name for Justicia nasufa now 

 separated as a distinct genus under the name of Bhinacanthus 

 communis, a shrub of the Acanthad family (Acanthacese). It 

 is sparingly branched, attaining a height of 6 to 8 feet, having 

 large, elliptical, opposite, entire leaves, and axillary spikes of 

 small white flowers. It is common in many parts of India and 

 other Eastern countries. Its wood and woody root are held in high 

 repute as a cure for skin diseases. It has latterly attracted some 

 attention in this country under the name of Tong-pang-chong. 



Natal Plum, the fruit of Arduina hispinosa, a compact stiff 

 spiny bush of the Dogbane family (Apocynaceae), with box-like 

 leaves and small sweet-scented flowers, native of South Africa. 



