of eighty feet. The balsam is obtained by making holes into the 

 heartwood, when the balsam rushes out and is collected. Copal, 

 or gum anime, is obtained from several trees of this family ; one 

 of these is Hymenaea Courbaril, of tropical America, and an- 

 other, Trachylobiu 



) the 



i family is the 



wrindus 



now widely dis- 

 puted in tropical and warm temperate regions for its edible 

 ruit. This consists of flat pods four to six inches long which 

 mlp ; placed in water they make a very pleasant 



beverage. 



; Mint 



. family, Min 



humble or sensitive plant, from Brazil. The leaves and leaflet: 

 of this are extremely sensitive and close at the least touch. An 

 other interesting plant of this family is Acacia cornigera, a nativi 

 of Jamaica. This has large hollow spines, and it is said that ii 

 its native home these form the congregating places of viciou: 

 ants, which are enticed there by a sweet fluid secreted by th< 

 plant. Browsing animals which come to eat the foliage are im 

 mediately assailed and driven away by these ants. 



Among the members of the mahogany family, Meliaceae, i; 

 one of great commercial importance, Sivietenia Mahagt 

 common mahogany, used so much in cabinet work. This i: 

 widely distributed throughout tropical America, and in its native 



eter having been shipped. 



In the cocaine family, Erythroxylaceae, we have the interest 

 ing plant from which the drug cocaine is obtained. This is Ery 

 throxylon Coca. The plants in the collection are the variety nco 

 granatense ; they may frequently be seen in both flower and fruit 

 It is native to the Andes of South America. Coca, the driec 

 leaf, has long been used as a masticatory by the Indians of tha 

 region. It is a stimulant, having somewhat the effects of tea anc 

 coffee. The alkaloid cocaine is obtained from the leaves and ii 



the 



esthet 



In the c 



; the cherii 



