242 JO URNAL, BOMB A Y NA TURAL EISTOR Y SOCIETY, Vol. IX, 



celled ovary of the Semecarpus anacardium " may be considered," says 

 Sir John Lubbock, " as reduced types." (Seedlings, Vol. I., p. 369.) 

 Baillon observes that the cup-shaped fleshy orange-red enlarge- 

 ment, more or less high round the pericarp, and encircling the base of 

 the drupe, is a peduncular swelling. I think it is something more 

 than that. It contains in addition to the peduncular enlargement, 

 the base of an accrescent calyx. Baillon says that fermented drinks 

 and conserves are made from this very showy cup. It has an agree- 

 ably acid taste, and is perfectly harmless. In speaking of the edible 

 nature of the friut of a congener of Semecarpus anacardium^ namely, 

 the elm-leaved Sumach of America (Rhus coriaria), Mr. Nuttall 

 observes that " the pulp of the drupes of several species affords an 

 agreeable acid similar to that of wood-sorrel, either oxalic or 

 tartaric*' (p. 122, Vol. II., " North American Sylva). It would 

 be interesting to know to what particular acid the sour taste of 

 the bright orange cups of the marking-nut is due. Mr. Wasudev 

 Chintaman Bapat of Naringre (Ratnagiri district) says that the 

 orange cups are dried and eaten like figs under the name of Bipti. 

 The ripe fruits are strung together on a piece of twine and hung up 

 to dry in the sun before being so used. It is stated in Lindley and 

 Moore's " Treasury of Botany " that the unripe fruit is employed for 

 making a kind of ink (Vol. II, p. 1047). I may observe that even 

 the ripe and dried fruit is similarly used, I should even say principally 

 used. The dried flat cotyledons are used in this country under the 

 name of godambi. Though some consider the taste of the fruit 

 agreeable, Brandis is of opinion that the fruit, when fresh, is lc acrid 

 and astringent ; roasted, it is said to taste somewhat like roasted 

 apples, and when dry, somewhat like dates." Roxburgh says that 

 before being roasted, the fruit leaves sometimes a painful sensation on 

 the tongue. The roasting is usually done in hot ashes. Masters, 

 who writes the article on Semecarpus anacardium in the " Treasury 

 of Botany " just referred to, says that " the seeds called Malacca- 

 beans or marsh-nuts are eaten, and are said to stimulate the mental 

 powers and especially the memory." I know a case of leprosy 

 complicated with loss of memory, in which the nut was used by 

 a Hindu Vaidya with the special object of curing the latter 

 affection. 



