29 



valuable as an antispasmodic and stimulant, and at one time had a great 

 reputation as a cure for cholera. In China the leaves are used as a tonic in 

 the form of decoction. 



283. Melicocca bijuga. — This sapindaceous tree is plentiful in tropical America 



and the West Indies, and is known as the Genip tree. It produces numer- 

 ous green egg-shaped fruits, an inch in length, possessing an agreeable 

 vinous and somewhat aromatic flavor, called honey berries or bullace plums. 

 The wood of the tree is hard and heavy. 



284. Melocactus communis. — Commonly called the Turk's Cap cactus, from the 



flowering portion on the top of the plant being of a cylindrical form and 

 red color, like a fez cap. Notwithstanding that they grow in the most dry 

 sterile places, they contain a considerable quantity of moisture, which is 

 well known to mules, who resort to them when very thirsty, first removing 

 the prickles with their feet. 



285. Mesembryanthemum crystallinum. — The ice plant, so called in consequence 



of every part of the plant being covered witn small watery pustules, which 

 glisten in the sun like fragments of ice. Large quantities of this plant are 

 collected in the Canaries and burned, the ashes being sent to Spain for the 

 use of glass makers. M. edule is called the Hottentot's fig, its fruit being 

 about the size of a small fig, and having a pleasant, acid taste when ripe. 

 M. tortuosum possesses narcotic properties, and is chewed by the Hottentots 

 to induce intoxication. The fruits possess hygrometric properties, the 

 dried, shriveled, capsules swelling out and opening so as to allow of the es- 

 cape of the seeds when moistened by rain, which at the same time fits the 

 soil for their germination. 



286. Mikania GUACO. — A composite plant which has gained some notoriety as the 



supposed Cundurango, the cancer-curing bark. It has long been supposed 

 to supply a powerful antidote for the bite of venomous serpents. 



287. Mimusops balata. — The Bully tree. • This sapotaceous plant attains a great 



size in Guiana and affords a dense, close-grained, valuable timber. Its 

 small fruits, about the size of coffee berries, are delicious when ripe. The 

 flowers also yield a perfume when distilled in water, and oil is expressed 

 from the seeds.' 



288. Mimusops elengi. — A native of Ceylon, where its hard, heavy, durable timber 



is used for building purposes. The seed also affords a great amount of oil. 



289. Monodora grandiflora. — An African plant belonging to the Anonaceae. It 



produces large fruit, which contains a large quantity of seeds about the size 

 of the Scarlet-Runner bean. They are aromatic and impart to the fruit the 

 odor and flavor of nutmeg; hence they are also known as calabash nut- 

 megs. 



290. Monstera dellciosa. — This is a native of southern Mexico and yields a deli- 



cious fruit with luscious pineapple flavor. The outer skin of the fruit, if 

 eaten, causes a stinging sensation in the mouth. This is easily removed 

 when the fruit is ripe. The leaves are singularly perforated with holes at 

 irregular intervals, from natural causes not sufficiently explained. In Trin- 

 idad the plant is called the Ceriman. 



291. Moringa pterygosperma.— A native of the East Indies, where it bears the 



name of horse-radish tree. The seeds are called ben nuts and supply a 

 fluid oil, highly prized by watchmakers, called oil of ben. The root is pun- 

 gent and stimulant and tastes like horse-radish. 



292. Moronobea coccinea. — The hog gum tree, which attains the height of 100 feet. 



A fluid juice exudes from incisions in the trunk and hardens into a yellow 

 resin. It is said the hogs in Jamaica when wounded rub the injured part 

 against the tree so as to cover it with the gum, which possesses vulnerary 

 properties; hence its name. The resin has been employed as a substitute 

 for copaiba balsam, and plasters are made of it. 



293. Mucuna pruriens. — A tall climbing plant of the West Indies and other warm 



climates. It is called the cowage, or cow-itch, on account of the seed pods 

 being covered with short brittle hairs, the points of which are finely ser- 

 rated, causing an unbearable itching when applied to the skin, which is 

 relieved by rubbing the part with oil. It is employed as a vermifuge. In 

 East Africa it is called Kitedzi. The sea beans found on the coast of Florida 

 are the seeds of Mucuna altissima. In Cuba these are called bulls' eyes. 



