ZELKONA OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 449 



in some species nearly 2 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter, 

 formed of fleshy scales ; the seeds are nut-like, produced on the 

 under side of the scales of the female cone. About 50 species 

 are recorded. They are widely distributed, being found chiefly 

 in the West Indies, Mexico, South Africa, and Australia ; in 

 the latter country some attaining a height of 30 to 40 or more 

 feet. They have been by modern botanists characterised under 

 separate genera : those of the Cape of Good Hope form the genus 

 Enceplmlartos, and of Australia Macrozamia. Their stems con- 

 tain a kind of sago {see Sago and Caffer Bread). They are found 

 in a fossil state in this and other countries. 



Zebra Poison {Eufliorhia arhorea), a succulent-branched 

 almost leafless tree of the Spurgewort family (Euphorbiacese), 

 native of South Africa. Its milky juice is highly poisonous, 

 whole herds of zebras having been killed by branches of it 

 being placed in the water which they drink. It is also used 

 for poisoning arrows. 



Zebra- wood. — The wood of several distinct trees is so 

 called. 1. Om;plialobium Lairiberti (now referred to Connarus), 

 a large tree of the family Connaraceae, native of Guiana ; it is 

 very scarce ; its wood is of a light-brown colour, with dark 

 stripes. It makes handsome furniture. 2. Eugenia fragrans, 

 a small tree of the Myrtle family (Myrtaceae), native of Jamaica. 

 3. Guettarda, a shrub or small tree of the Cinchona family (Cin- 

 chonacege), native of the East Indies. 



Zelkona Tree {Planera Richardi), a tree of the Elm family 

 (Ulmaceae), native of North America, attaining a height of 70 

 or 80 feet, having much the appearance of the elm, and in the 

 countries where it is abundant is used for the same purposes as 

 the elm, especially for making furniture. 



2 G 



