422 ORDER LEGUMINOS^E, OR PEA TRIBE. 



Its appearance, whilst still connected with the plant, is very 

 curious. The nut is borne at the extremity of a fleshy fruit 

 considerably larger than itself; which is nothing else than the 

 peduncle or flower-stalk enlarged and become succulent. This 

 fruit, which is termed the apple, has an agreeable acid flavour, 

 slightly astringent, and is much esteemed in the "West Indies, 

 where the juice expressed from it is fermented and made into a 

 kind of spirit. Between the two layers of the pericarp or ripened 

 carpel, there is found a considerable quantity of inflammable oil, 

 which is so acrid as to blister the skin if the fingers or teeth be 

 used in removing the shell. The kernel abounds with a milky 

 juice, and is much esteemed for its flavour. The juice of the nut 

 of an allied species is of a deep black when ripe, and leaves an 

 indelible stain if applied to linen, &c. ; so that it makes an 

 admirable natural marking-ink. The Mango, a fruit highly 

 prized in India, which has been naturalised in the West Indies 

 also, is produced by another species of this order; several varieties 

 of the fruit are cultivated, differing much in size and flavour. 

 They vary in weight from a few ounces to several pounds ; some 

 have a most delicious, aromatic, sweet, and slightly acid taste ; 

 whilst in others, the resins so much abound that the flesh is 

 ill-flavoured, and, being at the same time fibrous, has been not 

 unaptly compared to a mixture of " tow and turpentine." The 

 tree is a very handsome one; as is also that from which the 

 black varnish of India is obtained. This varnish, whilst still 

 liquid, is so acrid in its properties as to blister the skin, if allowed 

 to touch it. A fruit much esteemed in the south of Europe, 

 as well as among Eastern nations, is the Pistachio nut, which is 

 the produce of one of the dioecious species; and in Sicily, a 

 ceremony similar to the marriage of the Palms (hereafter to be 

 described) is performed, in order to ensure the fertilisation of the 

 seeds. 



Order LEGUMINOS^E, or Pea Tribe. 



586. This is one of the largest and most important orders of 

 the whole group. There are few which are more easily recog- 

 nised, or in which greater interest is usually taken. It is ex- 



