280 GARDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



These are quite black, of very curious form, resembling a 

 bullock's head, with two large horns. Though much consumed 

 by the natives, they are considered hardly worth eating by 

 Europeans. They are most agreeable when peeled and fried. 

 The plant is rather an ornamental one, especially when in the 

 Rain season it opens its pure white flowers towards the close of 

 the day. It is said, however, by Colonel Sleeman, to be very 

 injurious to the tanks in which it is suffered to grow, producing 

 a great quantity of mud, and soon filling up the tank. 



LECYTHIDACE^E. 



Bertholletia excelsa. 



BRAZIL-NUT. 



A tree of enormous size, native of the districts of the Orinoco 

 and the Eiver Amazon. At Tapaiunquara, says Mr Bates, may 

 be seen " grove after grove of Brazil-nut trees on the mainland. 

 This is one of the chief collecting-grounds for this nut. The 

 tree is one of the loftiest in the forest, towering far above its 

 fellows; we could see the woody fruits, large and round as 

 cannon-balls, dotted over the branches." * 



Every one nearly must be familiar with these nuts, so common 

 in the fruiterers' shops in London. Endeavours were made some 

 years ago to raise plants in the Gardens of the Agri-Horticul- 

 tural Society from nuts obtained from Europe, but unsuccess- 

 fully. The nuts being of a very oily nature do not probably 

 retain their vitality long. If plants, moreover, could be raised, 

 it does not seem in the least degree likely they would be found 

 suited to this climate. 



* ' The Naturalist on the Eiver Amazon,' vol. i. p. 135. 



