320 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES PIASSABA 



Islands generally. It has large fleshy tubers, which, after pre- 

 paration by pounding and washing to rid them of their acridity, 

 form an important article of food. The fecula or meal is equal 

 to the best arrowroot. 



Piassaba, the Brazilian name of a fibre obtained from 

 Attalea fuiiifera and Leojyoldinia piassaba, two wing-leaved palms 

 abundant in Northern Brazil. They have a very unsightly 

 appearance on account of their old leaves hanging down and 

 their stems being covered with loose shaggy strong fibre of a 

 brown colour, which is collected, and forms a considerable 

 article of trade, shiploads being imported into this country and 

 used for making street brooms and for other like purposes. 



Pig-nut, also called Hog-nut {Carya porcina), a tree of 

 the Walnut family (Juglandaceae), native of North America, 

 chiefly in the middle and western United States. It attains a 

 height of 70 to 80 feet, and a diameter of 3 feet at the base. 

 Its wood is considered superior to the other species of Carya. 

 Its nut is small, and is eaten by pigs. {See also Earth Chest- 

 nut.) 



Pigeon Berry. (See Poke.) 



Pigeon Pea (Cajanus indicus), a trifoliate-leaved shrub of the 

 Bean family (Leguminosoe), originally a native of India, but 

 now cultivated in most tropical countries for the sake of its pea 

 seeds. There are two varieties, one in Jamaica called the 

 Pigeon and No-eye Pea, and the other variety called the Congo 

 Pea. In all countries where it grows it forms an important 

 article of food. 



Pigeon Plum. — Chrysobalanus ellipticus and C. luteus, small 

 trees of the Cocoa Plum family (Chrysobalaneae), natives of 

 Western tropical Africa. Their fruits are succulent, and 

 abundantly sold in the markets of Sierra Leone ; one is called 

 Yellow Pigeon Plum. 



Pilewort {Ranunculus Ficaria), a perennial of the Butter- 

 cup family (Eanunculaceae), native of this country and Europe 

 generally. A pretty yellow early spring flowering plant, 

 having heart-shaped leaves, not exceeding 3 inches in height. 



