420 DICTIONARY OF POPULAE NAMES TUBEROSE 



in diameter, attached near tHe centre to a long foot-stalk, the 

 margin being deeply lobed, the under side white ; after falling 

 their regular position on the stem is marked by permanent 

 scars. The wood is soft, and the young branches are hollow, so 

 that musical instruments are made from them. This tree is a 

 great resort of ants. 



Tuberose {PoUanthes hiherosa), one of the Lily family 

 (Liliacese). This is said to be a native of the East Indies, 

 but has been long introduced into the South of Europe, and is at 

 present extensively cultivated in Italy for its bulbs, which form 

 an article of trade, and are exported to this and other countries. 

 It derives its generic name from 2^olis, a city, and antlios, a 

 flower, literally flower of the city. It must not be con- 

 founded wdth Polyanthus of the Primrose family, or with 

 Narcissus polyanthus. 



Tucuma, the Indian name of Astrocaryum Tucuma, a 

 wing-leaved palm, attaining a considerable height, native of 

 the upper regions of the Amazon. The fruit consists of a 

 hard nut covered with a thin coating of pulp, eaten by the 

 natives. 



Tulip (Tulijya Gesneriana), a bulbous plant of the Lily 

 family (Liliaceoe). The Tulip is said to be a native of the 

 Levant, the specific name being given in honour of a botanist 

 named Gesner, who was the first to describe and figure it, in 

 1559. It appears to have been cultivated in this country about 

 1577. The original, or wild plants, have yellow flowers, but 

 cultivation has produced hundreds of beautiful varieties, vary- 

 ing greatly both in colour and size. Formerly some of these 

 varieties were so famous that high prices were paid for the 

 bulbs, which in Holland became a speculative mania. In 1639, 

 120 tulips sold for 90,000 florins, and 1 sold for 4203 guilders, 

 bulbs representing scrip to a large amount, and even scrip 

 circulated on ideal bulbs. This ruinous traffic was ultimately 

 stopped by the State. For many years tulips have been favourite 

 objects of cultivation and competition amongst florists in this 

 country. 



