136 



CHAP. VII. 



Useful 

 Plants. 



MANUAL OF THE NtLA^^IRI DISTRICT. 



handsome shrub yields the fruit 



Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, this 

 known as the hill-gooseberry. 



Eugenia jambolana. Eng. Jambolam or Blue apple. Duk. Jamun. 



Tarn. Nagap-pazham. Kan. Nerale-hannu. 

 A sweetish and astringent fruit. 



N.O. CUCURBITACE^. 

 MoMOEDiCA DioiCA. Tavi. Palupaghel. 



The young fruit of this member of the Cucumber family as well as 

 its roots are eaten. 



N.O. SOr.ANACE^. 

 SoLANUM MELONGENA. E71Q. Brinjal. Tcim. Kathrikkai. 

 The fruit is a well known vegetable. 



Physalis Peruviana. Cape-gooseberry. An introduced plant, but 

 now growing wild all over the Hills. The fruit makes very good jam 

 or tart. 



N.O. PALMACE^. 

 Phcenix farinifera. Eng. Small or Wild Date. DuJc. Sandole. 



Tarn. Isham-pazham. 

 Fruit eaten. 



N.O. MUSACE^. 

 MusA PARADisiACA. Eiig. Plantain. DuJc. Mouz. Tarn. Vazhaip- 

 pazham. Kcui. Bale-hannu. 



I have not noticed the apple, peach, pear, walnut and other 

 introduced fruits, as their culture is confined to_a few gardens and 

 still in a very primitive state. 



Greens. E. GREENS. 



N.O. CRUCIFER^. 

 Nasturtium officinale and Nasturtium Indicdm. Both these species 

 yield edible cresses. 



N.O. PORTULACACE^. 

 PoRTULACA OLERACEA, P. WioHTiANA. Leavcs eaten as greens. 



N.O. RUTACE^. 

 MuRRAYA (Bergera) Konigii. Eug. Curry-leaf. Duh. Karya-pak. 



Tarn. Karu-veppilai. S'an. Kari-bevina. 

 The leaves are used for flavouring curries. 



N.O. AMARANTHACE^. 

 Amaranthus oleraceus, a. frumentaceus and A. caudatus. The 



leaves of the three species are used as pot-herbs. 

 Achyranthes aspera is also eaten at times. 



N.O. LAURACE^E. 

 Cinnamomum Zeylanicum. Eng. Cinnamon. Dak. Dal-chiui. Tarn. 



Lavangap-pattai. Kan. Dala-chinni- 

 The leaves of the cinnamon tree arc used as ilavouring agents in 

 food. 



