498 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



In tropical Africa we find especially M. maclagascariensis Lamk., 1 and 

 the two species we made known under the names of M. Niohue* and 

 M. Kombo? Several are energetic tonics, such as M. officinalis, 

 acuminata, Otoba. On merely plunging the fruits of M. sebifera 

 into hot water, a sort of grease is freed and rises to the surface. 4 

 The mace of 31. Otoba is used in Colombia to cure itch. The 

 excessive use of Nutmeg may cause various ill effects. In several 

 species the pericarp is caustic, and the bark is usually gorged with 

 an acrid viscid liquid, often reddish. That of the Nutmeg named 

 Dungan, in the Philippines, is used instead of gum dragon. 5 That 

 of M. tingens,* of Amboyna, is also red. Lime added to its mace is 

 used to dye the teeth red ; this is considered the height of beauty 

 by the natives. 7 



1 In Mem. Acad. Sc. Par. (1788), 163, t. 4. 

 — PoiR., Diet., iv. 338 (nee Boj.).— A. DC, 

 Prodr., n. 52. — Madagascar Nutmeg-tree, or 

 Muscadier de Madagascar, cultivated, it is said, 

 in Bourbon, and used exclusively as an aromatic. 



- H. Bn., in Adansonia, ix. 79, not. 1. — 

 Niofoue of the natives. 



3 H. Bn., loc. cit„ note 2. — Kombo or 

 N' combo of the natives ; Arbre a suif [grease- 

 tree] of the Gaboon. Its seeds are exhibited in 

 several chronic affections ; a nauseous-smelling 

 grease, analogous to that of M. sebifera. 



4 Yellowish, slightly scented, of a crystalline 

 appearance, used to make candles. 



5 Hinds, in Lond. Journ. Pot., i. 675, ex 

 Lindl., loc. cit., 302. 



6 Bl., Sumphia, i. 179. Dughan, Dttn- 

 ghan, or Gono-gogo seems to be (Rosenth. 

 op. cit. 5S8) produced by M. ? spuria Bl. 

 (M. philippinensis Lame. ? ; — M. luzonica 

 Blanco, Fl. d. Filipp., 664 ; — A. DC, Prodr., 

 n. 207). 



' The wood of the Myristicacea is sometimes 

 handsome, though not strong, and occasionally 

 scented. That of 31. Kombo is used in the 

 Gaboon for making pirogues. At Cayenne 

 they use that of M. surinamensis Roland., 

 under the name of Gvinguamadov de monlagne; 

 and the red Moussigot or Movchigo is another 

 species of the same genus, which we shall name 

 M. Mouchigo. 



