38R NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



In the West Indies the fruits of Sapindus Saponaria^ (tig. 353) are 

 especially used for washing; in Guiana, those of S. ahorescens- (fig. 

 351, 362) and frutesccns;'^ S. rigida* in Bourbon and Mauritius; 

 >S'. senegalensis '" in tropical western Africa ; and S. divaricatm ^ in 

 Brazil. The pericarp of the latter is thin, translucid, filled A\ith a 

 viscid juice. Its seeds, globular, black, and smooth, are used, like 

 those of many species of the genus, to make necklaces. Few species 

 have an edible pericarp, because there is often a smell and taste of tur- 

 pentine. Those of *S'. emarginatus ^ are eaten, it is said, in Georgia 

 and Carolina, and the negroes of the Senegal seek that of S. senegal- 

 ensis which has a vinous and sugary flavour. The fruits of 8. escu- 

 lentus ^ in Brazil and those of 8. fruticosus in Malabar are also 

 edible. The bark and root of several species,^ especially of 8. 

 Saponaria are, notwithstanding their acerbity, used as astringent and 

 tonic-bitter remedies. The tincture of the fruit has been recom- 

 mended for chlorosis, and the pulverised seeds are used for poison- 

 ing rivers. The Euphorias have quite a ditfereut kind of utility 

 in the tropical countries of the old world. The best known and 

 most frequently cultivated is E. Longana ^^ (fig. 354, 355), whose 

 seed is surrounded by a sapid, yellowish fleshy aril, sweetish and 

 acidulated, sought for as an aliment, refreshing, and cUicd like plums 

 to keep them during the bad season. It has unfortunately a vinous 

 taste and is smaller and not so good as that of Nepliclium Litchi " 

 (fig. 356-358), which is red, pulpy, acidulate and sweetish, with an 



1 L. Spec. 526.— DC. Pvodi:\. G07.— Commel. ^ See Guib. op. cU. 591 (Pbo dc sahw). 



Unit. i. 94. — Gum. op. cit. iii. 091 — Rosenth. 7 Vahl, Sijmb. iii. 54. 



op. cit. 779. The Panama Wood of commerce, s C.^mhess. A. S. II. Fl. Bins. Mcr. i. 391 



used for cleaning stuffs and sold in large pieces [Piltumbcra). 



in Paris, is proljably the bark of this species and ' There are mentioned as having the general 



of some others. It is often too voluminous to properties of the genus the S. iiicequalis DC. 



belong to Qnillaja Saponaria, of the family rii/idii.s Ait. abrnptus Louk. madmieiisls Peru. 



of Rijsaceee (see Hist, of PI. i. 453). It makes laurifolim Vahl (Rosenth. op. cit. 779), often 



water very soapy, and when smelt, especially described as the *'. Saponaria, under the names 



after having been recently broken, causes ener- of Suap Jf'ood, Pamon Wood, Soap-ball Tree, 



getic sneezing ; which seems to be, in this The fruits are still called Soap Applet. The 



inodorous bark, produced by the mechanical viscid juice has been used in cases of uterine 



action on the mucous membrane of the needle- hœmorrhage. 

 like crystals with which it is crammed. '" Lamk. Diet. iii. 574.— BuCH. Coll. t. 99. — 



- AuiiL. aaian. i. 357, t. 139. DC. Prodr. i. 611.— Tuep. in Diet. Sc. Nat. Atl. 



^ AuBL. op. cit. 355, t. 138. t. \12.—Diimcarpiis Longan Lovii. Fl. Cochimh. 



* Pom. Diet. vi. 663, n. 2. 233 [Lonijane, Œil-de-dragon, Boa, Boboa). 



' PoiE. Diet. vi. 666, n. 12.— Deless. Ic. Sel. " Litchi chinetisis Sonn. Votj. t. 129.— ^m- 



iii. 22, t. 38.- Gdillem. et Peuk. Fl. Scmg. phoria imnicea Lakk. Did. iii. 573 ; /«. t. 306. 



Teiil. i. 117 (Cahouart (Adans.), Kdiier, Kcllrr — Turp. lue. cit. t. 173.— £■. Litchi Dest. Cat. 



of the negroes). 159. "DC. Prodr. \. (j\\, n. X.^Scijlalia chin- 



