304 DICTIONAPvY OF POPULAR NAMES OSIER 



Osier {Scdix viminalis), a small tree of the Willow family 

 (Salicacese). This plant, together with other species of Salix, 

 furnishes the Osiers used for basket-making, and although much 

 cultivated in this country, the supply is not sufiicient to meet the 

 demand, large quantities being yearly imported from Holland. 



Oswego Meal. {See Maize.) 



Oswego Tea {Monarda didyma), a perennial herb of the 

 Mint family (Labiatae), attaining a height of 1 to 2 feet, having 

 whorled heads of fine scarlet flowers. It is a native of ISTorth 

 America ; the leaves have been used as a substitute for tea. 



Otaheite Apple, called by the natives Yi, the fruit of 

 Spondias dulcis, a tree of the Cashew Nut family (Anacardiacese). 

 It abounds in most of the Polynesian islands, and has been intro- 

 duced into many parts of the tropics, being cultivated for the 

 sake of its fruit. It attains a height of 50 to 60 feet, and has 

 dark-green winged leaves, which contrast with its golden fruit. 

 The average size of the fruit is that of an apple, and Dr. Seemann 

 says he measured one which was a foot in circumference and 

 weighed 1 lb. 2 oz. The rind tastes of turpentine, but the pulp 

 has a fine apple-like smell and an agreeable flavour. In Otaheite 

 the wood is much valued for making canoes. Another species 

 closely allied to the above is Spondias tuherosa, a native of the 

 Paraiba district of Brazil. The fruit is oblong, about the size of 

 a large gooseberry, and yellow when ripe. It is not fit to eat 

 until it is perfectly ripe and falls to the ground. This tree is 

 remarkable for producing aerial roots, which on reaching the 

 ground expand and form large black hollow tubers of a cellular 

 structure, each containing about a pint of water, which in dry 

 weather form a natural supply of water to the tree, and also to 

 travellers when it otherwise is scarce. 



Otto or Attar of Roses. {See Eose.) 



Ourari. {See Urari.) 



Overlook, a name given by the AVest Indian negroes to 

 Canavcdia gladiata, a strong-growing trifoliate-leaved climber of 

 the Bean family (Leguminosa?). It is common in woods in 

 the East and West Indies, tropical Africa, Mexico, Brazil, etc. 



