296 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES OCA 



the end of the above time it is sour, and is passed through a 

 strainer. The seeds are thus retained, and the milky liquid is 

 now ready for making sowans, which is done by putting a 

 quantity of the milky fluid in a pot and placing it on a slow 

 fire, and as it gets hot it requires to be continually stirred, and it 

 gradually thickens. When sufficiently thick, it is poured into 

 vessels, and eaten hot or cold with millv and butter, and is 

 the common supper in many rural districts of Scotland. In 

 olden times sowans formed the afternoon refreshment to reapers 

 in the harvest -field. It is cool and refreshing, pleasantly 

 acid, and perfectly wholesome. The awn of the AYild Oat is 

 long and rigid, and extremely sensitive to the changes of the 

 atmosphere, as regards moisture ; but it soon loses its hygrometric 

 property. 



Oca, a name for the tubers of Oxcdis crenata and 0. tiibcrosa, 

 herbs of the Oxalis family (Oxalidacea3), natives of Bolivia. 

 Their tubers are farinaceous, and used by the natives as food. 



Ochro, a name in the West Indies for the seed-vessels of 

 Hibiscus escidcntus. They are very mucilaginous, and used for 

 thickening soup. They are also used in the East Indies and in 

 many tropical countries for a similar purpose. 



Oil-cake. {See Flax, Cotton, Eape.) 



Oil of Rhodium, an oil obtained from the wood of 

 Rhoclorrliiza scoiKtrius and B. jloridus, which is said to be 

 used in adulterating attar of roses. They are climbing shrubs 

 of the Bindweed family (Convolvulacese), natives of the Canary 

 Islands. On account of the scent, their wood is called Eose- 

 wood. It is now very rare. 



Old Man's Beard. {See Moss, American.) 



Oleander {Nerium Oleander), a handsome evergreen shrub of 

 the Dogbane family (Apocynaceae), native of the Levant, and 

 naturahsed in the South of Europe. It has been cultivated in 

 this country for 300 years, and, with the Myrtle and Orange, 

 was one of our first greenhouse plants. It is highly orna- 

 mental, and has very fragrant flowers. It grows abundantly in 

 the valley of the Jordan, and when in flower is very beautiful. 



