364 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



FiCOIDEiE. 



Ice Plant {Mesembryanthenmm crystallinum, L.). — 

 This plant is burned for its ashes, which contain an 

 alkali used in the manufacture of glass. — ' Dictionary 

 of Economic Plants,' Smith, p. 218. 



Distribution : Canary Islands. 



Sesuvmm Portulacastrum, L. — ^A prostrate herb 

 often wholly blood-red or purple. Used as a pot- 

 herb, but has a rather saltish taste. — 'Treasury of 

 Botany,' Lindley and Moore. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea, Lower Guinea, Mozam- 

 bique District. 



Khapra of India {Triantheina monogyna, L.). — A 

 perennial plant common in rice-fields. The leaves 

 are used as a pot-herb, and the root when reduced to 

 a powder as a cathartic. — ' Vegetable Materia Medica 

 of Western India,' Dymock, p. 59. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea. 



Molbigo Cerviana, Ser. — Annual herb. The young 

 shoots and flowers are given in infusion in fevers as a 

 mild diaphoretic, and the plant mixed with oil is used 

 as an ointment for scabies and other cutaneous affec- 

 tions. — ' Useful Plants of India,' Drury. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea, Nile Land, Lower 

 Guinea, Mozambique District. 



Molhigo Spergula, L. — Small plant. The leaves 



