398 DICTIONAPwY OF POPULAK NAMES SUMBUL 



Sumbul, a name of a spongy root, smelling strongly of 

 musk, known to druggists to come from Eussia, and supposed to 

 be the root of an umbelliferous plant ; but what plant was not 

 known until 18 69, when Mr. Kaufmann, a Paissian explorer, 

 discovered it growing on the mountains of Eiissian Turkestan, 

 and proved it to belong to the above-named family. He suc- 

 ceeded in introducing it into the Moscow Botanic Gardens, from 

 whence it came to Kew. It has been described as a new genus 

 under the name of Euryangium Sumhul ; it is now referred to 

 the genus Ferula, and called Ferula Sitmhd. Its root comes to 

 this country in pieces, varying in size from 2 J to 5 inches in 

 diameter ; it is valued as a medicine, being stimulant and highly 

 antispasmodic. 



Sumpunghee. (See Champaca.) 



Sun Flower {Helianthus annuus), an annual of the Composite 

 family (Composita^), bearing large terminal, flat, circular flower- 

 heads, sometimes a foot in diameter, having yellow rays. It 

 is said to be a native of Mexico and Peru, and to have been in- 

 troduced into this country at the end of the sixteenth century. 

 It is extensively cultivated in this and other countries for its 

 seeds, which are highly valued for feeding sheep, pigs, poultry, 

 pigeons, rabbits, etc., and are considered superior to linseed for 

 feedins: cattle. An oil is obtained from the seeds, said to be 

 equal to olive oil. They are also ground into a meal and made 

 into cakes, or roasted and used as coffee. It is an excellent 

 plant for bees, large quantities of honey and w^ax being obtained 

 from the flowers. It is extensively grown in China ; and in 

 Eussia the seeds are sold in the streets and eaten as nuts. 



Sunn Hemp. {Sec Hemp.) 



Supple Jacks (Pccullinia curassavica), a scandent hard- 

 wooded climber of the Soapberry family (Sapindaceae), native of 

 the West Indies and tropical America. The stems are flexible, 

 and converted into walking-sticks, and known in the West 

 Indies, as well as in this country, under the above name. 



Swamp Oak (Casuarina suherosa), a tree of the Casuarina 

 family (Casuarinacea?), native of Australia ; it is of singular and 



