ZACHUN OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 447 



Yellow-wood, Queensland (Flindcrsia Oxlcijana, better 

 known as Oxleya Xcmtho.dya), a tree 40 to 50 feet liigli, of the 

 Mahogany family (Cedrelacete). The wood is used for fur- 

 niture. 



Yellow-wood, South African (Podocarjms elongatus), a 

 large tree of the Yew family (Taxaceie), a useful timber tree. 



Yellowwort, the common name for Chlora 'perfoliata, a 

 pretty annual herb of the Gentian family (Gentianacea^), native 

 of this country ; it is an erect single-stemmed plant, about a foot 

 in height, with few root-leaves, and small, opposite, perfoliate 

 stem leaves ; the flowers are produced singly on short terminal 

 branches ; they are yellow and showy, opening only during sun- 

 shine. It differs from the rest of Gentians in having 8 stamens. 

 The whole plant , is intensely bitter, used as a tonic ; it also 

 yields a yellow dye. 



Yerba. (See Paraguay Tea.) 



Yercum. {See Mudar.) 



Yew {Taxiis haecata), a tree of the Yew family (Taxacese), 

 native of tlie temperate regions of Europe and Asia. It is 

 famed for the age of some of the trees and for the durability of 

 its wood, remains having been found in the ruins of ancient 

 Mneveh. It is much planted as an ornamental tree, and is also 

 used in forming edges. When grown singly, it forms a hand- 

 some tree, 30 to 40 feet high. The red succulent cups in which 

 the seeds are seated are frequently eaten for their agreeable 

 taste. In winter they form an important source of food to the 

 feathered tribe. The seeds themselves are, however, poisonous. 

 The branches and leaves are in a high degree poisonous to horses 

 and horned cattle, and act on man like Digitalis in arresting the 

 action of the heart. The Irish Yew is a variety. 



Yulan, a Chinese name for Magnolia conspicua {sec Mag- 

 nolia). 



Zachun, the Arab name of an oil expressed from the fruit 

 of Balanites ccgyptiaca, a thorny shrub or small tree of forbid- 

 ding aspect belonging to the family Amyridaceie. Tlie leaves 

 are biuate ; the flowers small, greenish wliite, fragrant, on 



