170 Till-: TROPICAL WORLD. 



liquid is boiled with meat and seasoned, it forms a wholesome 

 and nutritious soup. The Jatropha Janipha, or Sweet Cas- 

 sava, though very similar to the Manihot or bitter variety, and 

 wholly innocuous, is far less extensively cultivated. 



The yam-roots, so frequently mentioned in narratives of 

 travel through the tropical regions, are tlie produce of two 

 climbing plants — the Dioscorea sativa and alata— with tender 

 stems of from eighteen to twenty feet in length, and smooth 

 sharp-pointed leaves on long foot-stalks, from the base of which 

 arise spikes of small flowers. The roots of the D. sativa are 

 flat and palmated, about a foot in breadth, white within and 

 externally of a dark brown colour, those of the D. alata, are still 

 larger, being frequently about three feet long, and weighing 

 about thirty pounds. Both kinds are cultivated like the 

 common potato, which they resemble in taste, though of a 

 closer texture. 



The Dioscoreae are natives of South Asia, and are supposed 

 to have been thence transplanted to the West Indies, as they 

 have never been found growing wild in any part of America ; 

 while in the island of Ceylon, and on the coast of Malabar, they 

 flourish in the woods with spontaneous and luxurious growth. 



The Spanish or Sweet Potato (Convolvulus Batatas)., com- 

 monly cultivated in the tropical climates both of the eastern 

 and the western hemispheres, is an herbaceous perennial, which 

 sends out many trailing stalks, extending six or eight feet every 

 way, and putting forth at each joint roots which in a genial 

 climate grow to be very large tubers, so that from a single 

 plant forty or fifty large roots are produced. The leaves are 

 angular and stand on long petioles, the flowers are purple. 

 The batata is propagated by laying down the young shoots in 

 the spring ; indeed in its native climate it multiplies almost 

 spontaneously, for if the branches of roots that have been pulled 

 up are suffered to remain on the ground, and a shower of rain falls 

 soon after, their vegetation will recommence. 



Arrowroot is chiefly obtained from two different plants — the 

 Marantha arundinacea and the Tacca pinnatifida. The former 

 a native of South America, is an herbaceous perennial and is 

 propagated by parting the roots. It rises to the height of two 

 or three feet, has broad pointed leaves, and is crowned by a 

 spike of small white flowers. It is much cultivated, both for 



