27. Ananassa sativa.— The well-known pineapple, the fruit of which was de- 



scribed three hundred years ago, by Jean de Lery, a Huguenot priest, as being 

 of such excellence that the gods might luxuriate upon it, and that it should 

 only -be gathered by the hand of a Venus. It is supposed to be a native of 

 Brazil, and to have been carried from thence to the West, and afterwards to 

 the East Indies. It first became known to Europeans in Peru. It is univer- 

 sally acknowledged to be one of the most delicious fruits in the world. Like 

 all other fruits that have been a long time under cultivation, there are numer- 

 ous varieties that vary greatly, both in quality and appearance. The leaves 

 yield a fine fiber, which is used in the manufacture of pina cloth; this cloth 

 is very delicate, soft, and transparent, and is made into shawls, scarfs, hand- 

 kerchiefs, and dresses. 



28. Andira ineemis. — This as a native of Senegambia. Its bark is anthelmintic, 



but requires care in its administration, being powerfully narcotic. It has a 

 sweetish taste, but a disagreeable smell, and is generally given in the form of 

 a decoction, which is made by boiling an ounce of the dried bark in a quart 

 of water until it assumes the color of Madeira wine. Three or four grains of 

 the powdered bark acts as a powerful purgative. The bark is known as 

 bastard cabbage bark, or worm bark. It is almost obsolete in medicine. 



29. Andropogon muricatus.— The Khus-Khus, or Vetiver grass of India. The 



fibrous roots yield a most peculiar but pleasing perfume. In India the leaves 

 are manufactured into awnings, blinds, and sunshades; but principally for 

 screens, used in hot weather for doors and windows, which, when wetted, 

 diffuse a peculiar and refreshing perfume, while cooling the air. 



30. Andropogon scixenanthus. — The sweet-scented lemon grass, a native of 



Malabar. An essential oil is distilled from the leaves, which is used in per- 

 fumery. It is a favorite herb with the Asiatics, both for medicinal and cu- 

 linary purposes. Tea from the dried leaves is a favorite beverage of some 

 persons. 



31. Anona chertmolia. — The Gherimoyer of Peru, where it is extensively cultivated 



for its fruits, which are highly esteemed by the inhabitants, but not so highly 

 valued by those accustomed to the fruits of temperate climates. The fruit, 

 when ripe, is of a pale greenish-yellow color, tinged with purple, weighing 

 from 3 to 4 pounds; the skin thin; the flesh sweet, and about the consistence 

 of a custard; hence often called custard apple. 



32. Anona muricata. — The sour-sop, a native of the West Indies, which produces 



a fruit of considerable size, often weighing over 2 pounds. The pulp is 

 white and has an acrid flavor, which is not disagreeable. 



33. Anona reticulata. — The common custard apple of the West Indies. It has a yel- 



lowish pulp and is not so highly esteemed as an article of food as some others 

 of the species. It bears the name of Condissa in Brazil. The Anonas are 

 grown to some extent throughout southern Florida. 



34. Anona squamosa. — The sweet-sop, a native of the Malay Islands, where it is 



grown for its fruits. These are ovate in shape, with a thick rind, which in- 

 closes a luscious pulp. The seeds contain an acrid principle, and, being re- 

 duced to powder, form an ingredient for the destruction of insects. 



35. Antiaris innoxia. — The upas tree. Most exaggerated statements respecting 



this plant have passed into history. Its poisonous influence was said to be so 

 great as not only to destroy all animal life but even plants could not live 

 within 10 miles of it. The plant has no such virule.nt properties as the above, 

 but, as it inhabits low valleys in Java where carbonic acid gas escapes from 

 the crevices in volcanic rocks which frequently proves fatal to animals, the 

 tree was blamed wrongly. It is, however, possessed of poisonous juice, which, 

 when dry and mixed with other ingredients, forms a venomous poison for 

 arrows, and severe effects have been felt by those who have climbed upon 

 the branches for the purpose of gathering the flowers. 



36. Antiaris saccidora. — The sack tree; so called from the fibrous bark being 



used as sacks. For this purpose young trees of about a foot in diameter are 

 selected and cut into junks of the same length as the sack required. The 

 outer bark is then removed and the inner bark loosened by pounding, so that 

 it can be separated by turning it inside out. Sometimes a small piece of the 

 wood is left to form the bottom of the sack. The fruit exudes a milky, 

 viscid juice, which hardens into the consistency of beeswax, but becomes 

 black and shining. 

 87. Antidesma BUNIAS. — An East India plant which produces small, intensely 

 black fruit about the size of a currant, used in making preserves. The bark 



