FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 363 



{Zeh7ieriascrobicidata,'ir{oc\ist.). — Herb. The powdered 

 leaves are soothing and sedative, and are used by the 

 Abyssinians as a remedy for tapeworm. — ' Pharma- 

 ceutical Journal,' 185 1, vol. xi., p. 163. 

 Distribution : Upper Guinea, Nile Land. 



Sicyos angiilatus, L. — Climbing plant. Root and 

 seeds bitter and diuretic. — 'Treasury of Botany,' 

 Lindley and Moore. 



Distribution : Nile Land, Lower Guinea. 



Eguse, Argosee, or Laikee Seeds. — The seeds known 

 under these names are produced by some Cucarbita- 

 ceotis plant. In Sierra Leone and other parts of 

 Western Africa they are used as food by the inhabi- 

 tants in various country dishes. An oil is extracted 

 from them, which when pure is said to be an excellent 

 substitute for salad oil and for burning in lamps ; it 

 is also employed for various medicinal purposes. — 

 'Pharmaceutical Journal,' 1856, vol. xvi., p. 307, &c. 



Cacte^. 



The cochineal insect fed upon species of Opimtia is 

 largely cultivated in the Canary Islands. The imports 

 into this country from there in 1879 amounted to 

 24,720 cwt. — Spon's ' Encyclopaedia of the Industrial 

 Arts, Manufactures and Commercial Products,' p. 857. 



