URTIGALES. 



489 



of them contain an acrid poisonous principle, while some are not only 

 innoxious, but afford wholesome food. 



Artocarpus iveua, the Bread Fruit tree, a native of the Pacific Is- 

 lands, and now common in tropical countries, attains a height of from 

 six to nine metres (20 to 30 ft.). The fleshy receptacle and agglomerated 

 carpels form a mass as large as a man's head. This " fruit," when 

 gathered a little before it is ripe, and bated, looks and tastes much 

 like bread, and is largely eaten by tropical people. The Jack Fruit of 

 India [A. integrifolius^ is similar, but not so palatable. 



Ficus Carica, the Fig, a native of Western or Southern Asia, has 



Figs. 390, 91. — Illustrations of Mobacs.^, 



Fia. 390. 



Pig. 391. 



Fig. 390.— Flosliy concave receptacle of Do7-stenia, bearing male and female flowers. 

 Fig. 391. — Fleshy closed receptacle oi Ficus ^ cnt vertically, containingmale flowers 

 above and female below. 



been cultivated for ages. It is now found in all tropical and sub-trop- 

 ical countries. It is grown in the Southern United States and in Cali- 

 fornia. The tree attains a height of from five to six metres (16 to 20 

 ft.), and bears pear-shaped closed receptacles (Fig. 391), inside of which 

 are the minute flowers. The ripened and dried receptacles constitute 

 the Figs of commerce. Our supply comes mainly from the Mediter- 

 ranean Basin. 



Oalactodendron utile {Brodmum utile), a tall tree, twenty-five metres 

 hio-h (80 ft.), of Venezuela, whose milky juice is used by the natives as 

 a substitute for milk, to which it bears a close riseinblance. The tree 

 13 hence called the Cow Tree: 



