660 IRIDACEyE. 



from Agapito, Fonticilla, Misantla, Papantla, also from Teziutlan, 

 province of Puebla, There are likewise " Bay7iillales" plantations of 

 vanilla, on the western declivity of the Cordilleras in the State of Oaxaca, 

 and in lesser quantity in those of Tabasco, Chiapas, and Yucatan. The 

 eastern parts of Mexico exported in 1864, by way of Vera Cruz and 

 Tampico, about 20,000 kilo, of vanilla, chiefly to Bordeaux. Since 

 then the production seems to haVe much declined, the importation 

 into France having been only 0,896 kilo, in 1871, and 1,938 in 187'2} 



The cultivation of vanilla in the small French colony of Reunion or 

 Bourbon (40 miles long by 27 miles broad), introduced by Marchant in 

 1817 from Mauritius, has of late been very successful, notwithstanding 

 many difficulties occasioned by the severe cyclones which sweep peri- 

 odically over the island, and bj' microscopic fungi which greatly injui^ed 

 the plant. In 1849 the export of vanilla from Reunion was 3 kilo- 

 grammes, in 1877 it reached 30,973 kilogrammes. The neighbouring 

 island of Mauritius also produces vanilla, of which it shipped in 1872 

 7,189 lbs., in 1877 the quantity was 20,481 lbs. There is likewise a 

 very extensive cultivation of vanilla in Java. 



Vanilla comes into the market chiefly by way of France, which 

 country, according to the official statistics, imported in 1871, 29,914 

 kilo. (65,981 lbs.); in 1872, 26,587 (58,643 lbs.); in 1874 that quantity 

 amounted to 34,906 kilo. 



Uses — Vanilla has long ceased to be used in medicine, at least in 

 this country, but is often sold by druggists for flavouring chocolate, 

 ices, creams, and confectionery. 



IKIDACE^. 



RHIZOMA IRIDIS. 



Radix Iridis Florentinm; Orris Root; F. Racine d'Iris; 

 G. Veilchenwurzel. 



Botanical Origin — This drug is derived from three species of Iris, 

 namely: — 



1. Iris germanica L., a perennial plant with beautiful large deep 

 blue flowers, common about Florence and Lucca, ascending to the 

 region of the chestnut. It is also found dispersed throughout Central 

 and Southern Europe, and in Northern India and Morocco; and is one 

 of the commonest plants of the gardens round London, where it is 

 known as the Blue Flag. 



1. /. pallida Lam., a plant differing from the preceding by flowers 

 of a delicate pale blue, growing wild in stony places in Istria. It is 

 abundant about Florence and Lucca in the region of the olive, but is a 

 doubtful native. 



3. /. florentina L., closely allied to /. pallida, yet bearing large 

 white flowers, is indigenous to the coast region of Macedonia and the 

 south-western shores of the Black Sea, Hersek, in the Gulf of Ismid, 

 and about Adalia in Asia Minor. It also occurs in the neighbourhood 



* Documents Statistiques rdunis par V Administration des Doiianen -tur fe Commerce de 

 la France, annee 1872, p. 64, 



