RAKI OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 345 



been translated Broom : but as neither Juniper nor Broom is 

 capable of being eaten as food, both beiug hard and nauseous in 

 the extreme, we are led to suppose that it was some other plant 

 that was eaten, and that it was a species of Cynomorium which 

 grows on the roots of Eaetem, in the same manner as Broom- 

 rape {Orobcuichc) grows on the roots of broom and furze in this 

 country ; further, Cynomorium coccineum has been seen grow- 

 ing in abundance on the Eaetem in the region of the Dead Sea, 

 and is known to be eaten in some parts in times of scarcity, 

 especially in the Canary Islands, so that this plant may be 

 accepted as explaining the words, "eating Juniper roots for 

 their meat." (See Fungus Melitensis.) 



Raffia, or Roffia. (See Jupate Palm.) 



Rafflesia. — It is now sixty -two years since a great sensa- 

 tion was caused by the discovery in the Island of Sumatra 

 of one of the most remarkable productions of the vegetable 

 kingdom. This was a plant consisting of a flower only, measur- 

 ing 1 yard in diameter, formed of five high fleshy lobes (petals), 

 of a spotted or mottled red colour, the union of their bases 

 forming a central cup capable of holding 12 pints of water, 

 the whole weighing 15 lbs. It was found growing on a prostrate 

 stem of a species of Cissus, a genus of the Vine family, and in its 

 unexpanded state was like a red cabbage. From its carrion-like 

 smell attracting insects, it w^as supposed to be a fungus ; but 

 on specimens being submitted to the celebrated botanist, Mr. 

 liobert Brown, it was found to be a true flower, having perfect 

 stamens and pistils, but dioecious — that is, the stamens in one 

 flower and pistils in another. He named it Babesia ArnolcU, 

 after its discoverers, Sir T. S. Eaflles and Dr. Arnold, and con- 

 sidered it to belong to the family Balanophoraceoe, all of which 

 are parasites ; but it is now classed by some botanists as the 

 type of a distinct family, Eafflesiacese. 



Ragee, a name in India for Elelisine coracana, a millet-like 

 grass, the seeds of which are used for food. 



Raisins, (fe Vine.) 



Raki. (See Mastich.) 



