392 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



disease. The plant is also used in fevers, dropsical 

 affections, &c. — ' Treasury of Botany,' Lindley and 

 Moore ; ' Economic Products of India,' Watt, part v., 

 No. 1098. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea, Cape Verd Islands. 



Brinjal or Aubergine, Egg plant {Solanum Melon- 

 gena, L.). — Herbaceous plant two to eight feet high. 

 It is largely cultivated in hot countries for the fruits, 

 which are more or less egg-shaped, and which vary 

 considerably in size and colour. They are very highly 

 esteemed in France, and are sometimes to be found 

 in the English markets. — 'Guide to Museums of 

 Economic Botany,' Kew. 



Distribution: Upper Guinea; common in cultivated 

 grounds. 



Physalis minima, L. — Herbaceous annual. In India 

 the fruit is officinal, being considered tonic, diuretic, 

 and purgative. — ' Economic Products of India,' Watt, 

 part, v.. No. 883. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea. 



Winter Q,\vtxxy{JPhysalis Alkekengi, L.). — Herbaceous 

 plant. The fruits have an acidulous and not unpleasant 

 flavour, followed by a slight bitterness. Though es- 

 teemed detergent and aperient, they are chiefly recom- 

 mended as a diuretic. In some parts of Germany the 

 country people eat them, and in Spain and Switzerland 

 they frequently supply the place of other eatable fruits. 

 By some they are esteemed equal to gooseberries for 



