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7.— TAHITI ARROWROOT. 



Nat. Oed. — TaccacesB. 

 Tacca pinnatifida. 



The plant from which this is obtained is a 

 native of the tropical parts of India, Africa, and 

 the South Sea Islands. Cakes made from the 

 Starch are eaten as food by the natives of Otaheite 

 and other Society Islands. The identity of this 

 and the preceding Starch is apparent when the 

 photographs are compared. The Starch is obtained 

 from the roots, which, in their native state, 

 contain certain acrid and bitter principles, but 

 these are to a large extent lost in cultivation, and 

 the remainder are separated in the process of 

 washing. This Arrowroot does not appear to be 

 a commercial article in this country. 



