SOAPBERRY OF ECOXOMIC PLANTS. 383 



Snake -wood (StrycJmos coluhrina), a small tree of tlie Xux 

 Vomica family (Loganiacea3), native of India, Java, and other 

 islands. In Malabar it furnishes the wood called Snake-wood. 

 It is in great repute as a remedy for the bites of snakes and in 

 skin diseases. (See also Greenheart and Letter-wood.) 



Sneezewort (Achillea Ptarmica), a low herbaceous herb of 

 the Composite family (Composite), common in this country. 

 Its leaves are numerous and finely divided, forming a tuft ; the 

 flower-stems are about a foot in height, bearing heads of white 

 flowers about the size of a daisy ; its leaves, when dried and 

 pulverised, are said to excite sneezing. 



Sneeze - wood {Pteroxylon utile), a small tree of the Soap- 

 berry family (Sapindaceai), native of the Cape of Good Hope. 

 The wood is hard and durable, takes a fine polish, and is used 

 for many purposes. In sawing the wood the dust excites violent 

 sneezing. 



Snowberry (Syiivplioricarpus racemosus), a bushy shrub of 

 the Woodbine family (Caprifoliacese), native of !N"orth America. 

 It is planted as an ornament in shrubberies, producing white 

 berries, conspicuous in autumn. 



Snowdrop Tree (Ralesia tetraptera), a wide - spreading 

 branching tree of the Storax family (Styracacea^), attaining a 

 height of from 20 to 30 feet, native of North America. It pro- 

 duces a profusion of pendulous white flowers like snowdrops, 

 which render it a highly ornamental tree. 



Snufif. (See Tobacco.) 



Soap Bark, also the bark of Pithecolohium higeminum, a large 

 tree of the Bean family (Leguminosce). It is saponaceous, and 

 is used as a substitute for soap in Caraccas. (See also Quillaia.) 



Soapberry (Sapindus Scqjonaria), a slender tree, with winged 

 leaves, of the Soapberry family (SapindaceiB), native of the West 

 Indies and many parts of tropical America. Its fruit is the size 

 of a large gooseberry, formed of a thick tough rind, loosely en- 

 closing a hard globose black seed. It takes the name of Soap- 

 berry from the rind on being put in water lathering like soap. 

 It has long been in general use in the West Indies as a substi- 



