V 



SALOOP OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 3G3 



Sal, the Indian name for Shorea rohusta, a tree of the family 

 Dipterocarpacese. It is a magnificent tree, attaining a lieight 

 of 100 feet, native of India, stretching from the Bengal pro- 

 vinces to the foot of the Himalayas. Its wood is of a li^ht- 

 brown colour, close-grained, strong and durable. It is consider- 

 ably stronger and heavier than teak. It and other species of 

 Shorea yield a resin known as Dammar, obtained by making 

 incisions in the tree. An oil is obtained from its seeds. 



Salaras. (See Chirata.) 



Salep, a farinaceous meal obtained from the tubers of several 

 terrestrial orchids. Orchis tnascula, 0. Morio, 0. militaris, 0. 

 2Ji/ra7}iidalis, and all the bulbous European species, produce the 

 starchy mucilaginous substance known as Salep, wliich is 

 obtained by macerating the bulbs in water. It contains a 

 chemical substance called Bassorine, wdiich is said to contain 

 more nutritive matter than any other vegetable product, one 

 ounce per diem being sufficient to sustain a man. Large quanti- 

 ties of Salep are prepared in Macedonia and Greece ; but the 

 finest comes from Turkey. In the Himalaya and Cashmere 

 many species of bulbous -rooted orchids yield Salep, which is 

 largely used as food by the natives. 



Sallow, a common name for Salix Caprea, a shrub of the 

 Willow family (Salicaceee), common in hedges and waste places. 

 Its flowers are borne in large yellow catkins, which are generally 

 produced about Palm Sunday. It is by many people gathered 

 and worn as an emblem on that day, and is known by the name 

 of Palm, and also by that of Goat Willow. It is cultivated 

 for its rods, which are cut at the age of one year for liasket- 

 making, and at two or three years old for hoops. Its bark con- 

 tains Salicine, used at one time as a substitute for Quinine. 

 S Saloop, the name of a beverage prepared from the bark of 

 Sassafras officinale and other ingredients. (See Sassafras.) It 

 was at one time sold as a morning drink in the streets of Lon- 

 don to the working-classes. It is a good tonic, and creates an 

 appetite. 



Saloop Bush, a name in Australia for Bhagodia hastata, a 



