384 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES SOAP 



tute for soap. Its frequent use is, however, considered to 

 deteriorate fabrics washed with it. The hard seeds take a fine 

 pohsh, and are used for making rosaries and necklaces, and at 

 one time were imported for making buttons. In India the same 

 use is made of the seeds of >S'. trifoliatus and >S'. Rarax, now 

 known as Dittdasma Rarah. A medicinal oil is extracted from 

 the former. Erioglossum edule {S. rubiginosa) is a tall tree of the 

 Pegu forests, having a girth of 3 to 4 feet. Its wood is white. 

 >S^. escvlentus is a native of Brazil, attaining a height of 30 to 40 feet. 

 Its fruit is produced in bunches like grapes ; the rind is hard, but 

 between it and the seed is a mucilaginous pulp which is eaten. 



Soap Bulb {Chloragalum pomeridianuin), a large bulb of the 

 Lily section of the family Liliace^e, native of California. It is 

 used as a substitute for soap, its mucilage producing a lather in 

 Avater ; but it contains neither alkali nor oil. 



Soap Pods. — In China the pods of several species of Ctesal- 

 pinieoe, and in India the pods of Acacia concinncty are of a sapo- 

 naceous nature, and are used as a substitute for soap. 



Soap -root (Gypsophylla Struthmm), a strong-rooted, many- 

 stemmed perennial of the Pink family (Caryophyllaceoe), native 

 of Spain, spreading a foot or more in height. Its root lathers 

 water, and is used as a substitute for soap. 



Soapwort {Saponaria officinalis), a strong-growing peren- 

 nial of the Pink family (Caryophyllacea^) ; it is common in 

 gardens. It is said to be a native of Britain, but if so it is very 

 rare. The stems upon being put in water form a lather like soap, 

 hence its name. 



Soldier's Herb. {See Matico.) 



Solomon's Seal {Polygonatum multiflorum), a perennial herb 

 of the Lily family (Liliacese), a plant found wild in many parts 

 of England, and frequently cultivated in gardens. Its creeping 

 roots or rhizomes are in great repute, as tliey quickly remove 

 bruises and discolorations of the flesh resultine^ from blows. 



Sophee, a name in the mountain regions of India for 

 Myrica integrifolia, a shrub of the Candleberry family (Myri- 

 cacese). Its fruit is eaten by the natives. 



