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yields a fine strong silky fibre, which is used for fishing-lines, 

 &c.j it also yields a milky juice from which madarine is prepared. 

 The juice when inspissated and boiled furnishes a substance 

 closely resembling gutta percha. The follicles, when ripe, con- 

 tain a fine silky down which may be spun and converted into 

 cloth ; the leaves warmed and moistened with oil are used by 

 the Natives as a discutient. 



ASCLEPIAS HAMILTONII. A shrub much resembling the former, 

 but differing in the segments of the corolla not being reflexed. 



ASTRAPJIA WALLICHII. Byttneriacece. A shrub ; leaves angu- 

 larly lobed, very soft to the touch ; flowers in large compact um- 

 bels, scarlet with yellow anthers ; having rather an unpleasant 

 scent. 



ASTSTASIA FORMOSA. Acanthacece. This plant is a native of 

 India, and abounds on the Coromandel Coast ; the flowers are 

 purple, and it is readily grown from seed. 



AVERHOA CARAMBOLA. Oxalidaceoe. TAM. TAMARTUN PULLUM. 

 The Kurmul, or Kumruk. A tree common in gardens flowers 

 in short racemes, variegated with white and purple ; fruit 

 acutely angled and acid, much used for tarts and pickles, there 

 are two kinds, the acid and sweet. 



AVERHOA BILIMBI. NAT. BELUMBOO. TAM. BILIMBIE PULLUM. 

 This fruit is pleasant tasted, but rather too acid, it is com- 

 monly made into pickles or preserves. 



AZALEA INDICA. AZALEA AURANTIACA. This is a beautiful 

 genus of plants, admired for its white, orange, purple, scarlet, 

 and variegated flowers, which it produces in great abundance, 

 grows freely from seed, and requiring a light soil. Each plant 

 should be grown separately in pots. 



BALANITES -^GTPTIACA. Olacinece. NAT. HINGENBET. A small 

 thorny tree with alternate bi-foliate leaves, and greenish white 

 flowers ; fruit about the size of an egg, covered with a smooth 

 dry cortex ; flourishes in black soil. 



BALSAMODENDRON GILEADENSE. Burserece. Vide Dracocepha- 

 lum. 



