194 



tJASE also roots of D, Contrajerva^ L., likewise known as 

 ' ll3. CONTRAYERVA, and formerly employed in medicine. 



Tribe V. Artocarpeae. — A group of tropical trees or 

 : shrubs marked by a milky juice and the large scales 



(stipules) at the base of each leaf -stalk, which fall and 

 leave a ring-like scar. 



Observe the skeletonised leaves of Ficus religiosa, L., 

 the Peepul or Pipal tree of India, covered with 

 gelatine and painted upon by Chinese artists. The tree, 

 which is sacred to the Buddhists, is commonly planted by 

 them in Ceylon and Burma, and also by the Hindoos 

 throughout India. Observe photograph of Sacred Bo 

 tree of Anarajapoora " in all probability the oldest 

 historical tree in the w^orld," it was planted B.C. 288. 

 The Buddhist priests object to "lop it with any weapon " 

 and only distribute to pilgrims the leaves which fall 

 naturally to the ground. Lac is produced in large 

 quantities on the Peepul, specimens of which are shown. 



The last compartment contains specimens of wood, &c., 

 of several species of Ficus from India, also a specimen of 

 the Sycamore Fig (F. Sycomorus, L.), a large Egyptian 

 tree affording a fruit used by the Arabs. Its light wood 

 is said to be almost imperishable, and served to make 

 the cases of Egyptian mummies ; specimens are shown. 



No. 463. Leaves, Wood, Bark, Cordage, and Lac of 

 the Banyan (Ficus bengalensis, L.), one of the most 

 famous trees of India, remarkable for its enormous 

 extension by means of rooting branches. The milky 

 juice is made into birdlime, the leaves are made into 

 platters, specimens of which are shown. 

 CASE Observe fruits of Ficus pumila, L., known as Ok-GUE 

 114. in Formosa. These fruits are much used in Southern 

 China and Formosa for making jelly. 



No. 464. Figs. The well-known heads of fruit of 

 Ficus Uarica, L., long cultivated in South Europe and 

 West Asia. 



Note Fig Pies or Cakes from Greece and Cyprus 

 where they are used as an important article of food. 



In the next compartment are samples of Rubber, raw 

 and manufactured, from the Abba or Abo tree (Ficus 

 Vogelii, Miq.) from Lagos. 



