137 



Observe also in the Primrose Order {Primulaceae) CASE 

 flowers of the COWSLIP {Primula officinalis^ Jacq.), used 71. 

 for making wine, and the dried plants of the Pimpernel 

 (Anagallis arvensis^ L.), an abundant annual weed known 

 as the Poor Man's Weather-glass in consequence of 

 the flowers generally closing on the approach of rain.. 



Note allso Ham AM A, the Amomum spurium of early 

 writers on Materia Medica. It consists of the moss-like 

 tufts formed by Dionysia diapensiaefolia, Boiss. The 

 aromatic constituent probably resides in the glandular 

 hairs with which the plant is more or less covered. It is 

 a native of Persia from whence it finds its way into the 

 Bombay Market. 



Myrsine Order {Myrsineae). A group of tropical or 

 subtropical shrubs or small trees of no great economic 

 value. On the low^er shelf, woods of several species of 

 Myrsine are shown, and on an upper shelf of the next 

 compartment is a pestle and mortar, as used in Dominica 

 for cleaning coffee, beating yams, bread-fruit, &c., into 

 pulp for use as food. The mortar is made of the wood of 

 Adegon (Ardisia sp.), and the pestle of the BoiS 

 Riviere (Chimarrhis cymosa^ Jacq.) belonging to the 

 natural order Buhiaceae. 



No. 344. Fruits of Emhelia Rihes, Burm., a scan- 

 dent shrub found throughout India, Malaya, and South 

 China. The berries are used as an anthelmintic, and to 

 adulterate black pepper. 



Sapodilla Order {Sapotaceae). Mainly trees and 

 shrubs of tropical countries ; frequently abounding in a 

 milky juice. Several species afford edible fruits. 



No. 345. Star Apple {Chrysophyllum Cainito, L.), 

 a well-known and highly esteemed fruit of the West 

 Indies and Tropical America. Spirit obtained from Star 

 Apples and specimens of wood of the tree are also 

 shown. 



On the lower shelf of this compartment are fruits and 

 wood of the Mammee Sapote or Marmalade Plum 

 (Lucuma mammosa, Gaertn.), a native of the West Indies 

 and South America, where the tree is cultivated for its 



