143 



The fruit is eaten by Afghans, either fresh or dried, and CASE 

 is also employed as a remedy for diarrhoea. Specimens 74. 

 are also shown of the edible fruits of D. mespiliformis, 

 Hochst., the MONKEY GUAVA of Upper Guinea. It is a 

 shrub or small tree with a black heart-wood similar to 

 Ebony, and is widely distributed in tropical Africa. 



On the lower shelves note fruits and wood of the 

 Persimmon {Diospyros virginiana, L.), a tree common 

 in the Middle and Southern United States. The fruit 

 has a strong astringent taste, and is hence used medi- 

 cinally ; when fully ripe or blett^d it is edible. From 

 the unripe fruit an indelible ink is made in the Southern 

 States. The bark is bitter and a febrifuge ; the wood is 

 dark-coloured and hard, and used for weaving-shuttles, 

 turnery, shoe-lasts, &c. 



Observe on the upper shelves of the next compartment, 

 edible fruits of the CHINESE DATE Plum or Kaki of 

 Japan (Diospyros Kaki, Linn. f.). They are highly 

 esteemed in the East, both in the fresh and dried states. 

 The plant has been introduced into European gardens, 

 and the fruits may occasionally be seen in fruiterers' 

 shops in this country. By cutting this fruit in halves, 

 and putting it in water, the Chinese are stated to obtain 

 an oil, which they employ for waterproofing umbrellas 

 and hats. 



Storax Order (Styraceae). A small group of woody 

 plants affording the fragrant resins Benzoin and true 

 Storax. 



Observe LODH BARK (Symploces racemosa, Roxb.), an 

 Indian shrub or small tree. It was formerly regarded in 

 Europe as a cinchona bark and known as ' China nova ' 

 and * China californica.' At the present day the leaves 

 and bark are used to a considerable extent in India for 

 dyeing, giving yellow and red tints. The bark is also 

 employed in medicine. Woods of other species of 

 Symplocos are shown on the adjoining shelves. 



No. 355. True Storax, a fragrant gum-resin 

 obtained from wounds in the stem of Sty rax officinale, 

 L., a small tree of Southern Europe and Asia Minor. 

 This substance was held in great estimation from the 

 time of Pliny to the close of the 18th Century, since 



