URTICALES. 



489 



of them contain an acrid poisonous principle, wliile some are not only 

 innoxious, but afford ■wholesome food. 



Artocarpus ivcUa, the Bread Fruit tree, a native of the Pacific Is- 

 lands, and now common in tropical countries, attains a height of from 

 six to ninemetres (30 to 30 ft.). The fleshy receptacle and agglomerated 

 carpels form a mass as large as a man's head. This " fruit," when 

 gathered a little before it is ripe, and baked, looks and tastes much 

 like bread, and is largely eaten by tropical people. The Jack Fruit of 

 India {A. integrifoUus) is similar, but not so palatable. 



Pious Gari<ia, the Fig, a native of Western or Southern Asia, has 



Pios. 390, 91.— Illustrations op Moraoe.e. 



Pro. 391. 



Pig. 390.— Fleshy concave receptacle of Dorsienia, bearing male and female flowers. 

 Fig. 391. — ^Fleshy closed receptacle of jFicus, cut vertically, containing male flowers 

 above and female below. 



been cultivated for ages. It is now found in all tropical and sub-trop- 

 ical countries. It is grown in the Southern United States and in Cali- 

 fornia. The tree attains a height of from five to six metres (16 to 20 

 ft.), and bears pear-shaped closed receptacles (Fig. 391), inside of which 

 are the minute flowers. The ripened and dried receptacles constitute 

 the Figs of commerce. Our supply comes mainly from the Mediter- 

 ranean Basin. 



Oalactodendron utile (Brosimum utile), a tall tree, twenty-five metres 

 Iiigh (80 ft.), of Venezuela, whose milky juice is used by the natives as 

 a substitute for milk, to which it bears a close resemblance. The tree' 

 ia hence called the Cow Tree. 



