FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 405 



Japanese. — ' The Useful Plants of Great Britain,' 

 Sovverby, p. 213, &c. 

 Distribution : Cape Verd Islands. 



Plantago Psyllium, L. — Erect annual. ' The seeds 

 when soaked in water yield a mucilage which is 

 largely used in France and Germany as a stiffening 

 material for muslin and other fabrics ; it has also been 

 recommended as a sizing material for photographic 

 prints. — • Photographic News,' June 20th, 1884, &c. 



Distribution : Cape Verd Islands. 



Nyctagine^. 



BoerhcMvia repeiis, L. (B. diffusa, L.). — Herbaceous 

 plant The plant is a good expectorant and has 

 been prescribed in asthma with marked success ; it is 

 given in the form of a powder, decoction, or infusion. 

 Taken largely it acts as an emetic. — ' Pharmacopoeia 

 of India,' Waring, p. 185. 



Distribution : Cape Verd Islands. 



AMARANTACEyE. 



Celosia argentea, L. — Annual, one to three feet 

 high. Used in India under the name of " Sarwali " 

 as a pot-herb in times of scarcity. The fruits are 

 used in North Formosa in ophthalmia, and the seed 

 in Japan in medicine under the name of " Nogeito."^ 



