188 NATURAL IIISTORY OF PLANTS. 



laginous. The fleshy fruits of Aristotelia Maqui (figs. 208-2 10) 1 are 

 eaten in Chili, and also used in making a kind of wine. In spite of 

 the generic name of Elaocarpus, it is a mistake to say that the peri- 

 carp contains oil, like that of the Olives. 2 But the seeds of some 

 species certainly contain it ; as do also those of the Limes, some- 

 times roasted, and used as a substitute for cocoa. The seeds of Cor- 

 chorus olitorius are purgative. 



As a textile substance the liber of the Limes has been used for 

 centuries in the manufacture of mats, cordage, cables, string, coarse 

 stuffs and even paper. The thread of Jute or Paat, which is imported 

 so largely by Europe from Asia and tropical Africa, is furnished by 

 the bark of Corchorus olitorius and some neighbouring species. 3 The 

 arborescent Tiliaccce have often a useful wood. That of the Euro- 

 pean and American Limes is employed for many domestic purposes, 

 in building, carving, &c. ; charcoal of a good quality is prepared 

 from it. Some species of Grewia in the Old AVorld, particularly the 

 Dhamnoo of India, or G. elastica Royle, 4 some Elceocarpus ; in Brazil, 

 Luhea ; in Asia and tropical Australia, Berrya Amomilla,* has also a 

 useful wood, often solid, enduring, elastic, good for carpenters' and 

 wheelwrights' work, &c. Some species of Corchorus are mentioned in 

 the East as tinctorial plants. In Peru, Vallea cordifolia E. & Pav. 6 

 is said to furnish a yellow dye. The nuts of several species of 

 Indian JEldeocaiyus, particularly those of E. Ganitrus, 1 are known to 

 collectors by their hardness, and the use that is made of them for 

 the toilette ; they are carved more or less finely, set in gold, or in- 

 crusted with stones and jewels. Collars and chaplets are made of 

 them which are sometimes of a high price. Several species of Elteo- 

 carpus have charming flowers, 8 white, red or yellowish, whose laci- 



A. S. H. and eriocarpa A. S. H., which grow in 4 From it are made very flexible bows, the 



Brazil by the wayside and are used in the treat- shafts of carriages, handles of whips, &c. 



inent of gonorrhoea. They bear the common 5 Roxb., Cat. Sort. Calc, 42. — DC, Prodr., 



name of Carapixo de calcada (Lindl., Fl. i. 518. Its light wood, named by the English 



lied., 148). Trincomale loood, is used in Madras in the con- 



1 Lh£r., Stirp., ii. 31, t. 16. — M£r. & Del., struction of craft, called Massoola boats. 



Diet. Mat. Med., i. 417.— H. Bn., in Diet. 6 Fl. Per., 132.— DC, Prodr., i. 520, n. 2. 



Encycl. Sc. Med., vi. 125. This plant is used It is probably only a variety of V. slipularis 



in dyeing black. Mxtt. (ex L. p., Suppl., 266). 



s Roxburgh is said not to have succeeded in 7 Ganitrus sphcerica G^rtn., Fruct., ii. 271, 



extracting it. The fruits bear in India the t. 139, fig. 6 (?). See Rumfh., Herb. Amboin., 



common names of Tulpai, Julpai. t. 101. — Buem., Zeyl., 30, t. 40. 



3 That is to say, C. capsularis L. {Spec, 8 See Pot. Mag., t. 4680. 

 746. — G.ERTN., Fruct., t. 129), acutangulus 

 LAMK.,(Dic/.,ii. \Q±),trilocularis L..,tridenslj.,&c. 



