388 LXXVI. EOSACE^. 



Rubiis fruticoms (Bramble or Blackberry). Fruits edible, astringent [sometimes not when ripe], as 

 are tbe buds. — B,. Idtsm (Raspberry). Fruit perfuined, acidulous and sugary, employed in the preparation 

 of jelly and Raspberry vinegar. — Fraguria vesca (Strawberry). Plant edible and medicinal. Fruit 

 succulent, perfumed. Root astringent, and diuretic. — Tormentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, P. ansenna. 

 Roots and leaves astringent. — Oeum wbamim and rivale (Avens). Root aromatic, bitter, tonic and 

 stimulating. — Dry as octopetala. Plant astringent, tonic The flowers oi Brayet-aantlielminthica, an Abys- 

 sinian tree, are, with the barls: of the Pomegranate root, the most efficacious known remedy for taenia. 

 The roots of Spircsacece, like those of Dryadecs, are astringent, and contain resinous and aromatic principles, 

 which render them bitter, tonic, and stimulating; such are Spircsa FUipendula (Drop-wort), Afuncus, 

 and TJhnaiia (Meadowsweet) ; the flowers of the latter are used to give a bouquet to wine, and their 

 watery infusion is sudorific and cordial. 



The tribe of Amygdalecs is not less useful than that of Pomacecs, and the excellence of its fruits is 

 due to cultivation, the'sugary matter in them overpowering the acid, without entirely'' disguising it, and 

 giving a delicious taste to the drupe. Many species, and especially the Bitter Almond, further contain in 

 their seed, and even in their leaves, the elements of hydrocyanic acid, joined to a peculiar volatile oil, 

 which is only developed in contact with water, and which gives them narcotic qualities. Their wood, 

 like that of Pomacem, is much used for joiners' work. The most useful species is Amyydalus communis 

 (Almond), a tree of the Mediterranean region. The drupe, contrary to that of [many of] the other 

 Amygdalecs, is fibrous, coriaceous and dry. The seed yields by expression a mild alimentary medicinal 

 fixed oil, rendered soluble in water by the gum, sugar, and albumine which accompany it, and forming a 

 milky emulsion, with which ' looohs ' and the ' sirop d'orgeat ' are prepared. 



Persica vulgaris (Peach). A tree, originally from China, with edible fruit. The seed contains the 

 elements of hydrocyanic acid; the fruit and crushed kernel are used in the composition of noyau} The 

 flowers are used in a purgative syrup. — P. Imvis (Nectarine). Fruit with a soft epicarp, edible. Origin 

 unknown [probably a variety of the Peach]. 



Armeniaca vulgaris (A-pncot). Tree originally from northern Asia (China?). Fruit edible, flesh 

 succulent, perfumed, [much used by travellers, dried and preserved in the form of flat cakes, throughout 

 Central and Western Asia]. 



Primus sjjinosa (Sloe). An indigenous tree. Flowers purgative. Fruits very harsh, only becoming 



edible when the frost has softened the pulp. Bark astringent, bitter, and febrifuge P. domestica 



(Wild Plum) and its wild congener the BuUace (P. insititia), are spread over the temperate regions of 

 the world. Fruit edible and medicinal. 



Cerams Avium (Wild Cherry). A European species, drupe yielding by fermentation and distillation 

 Idrsclmasser and Cherry wine. Wood reddish yellow, valued by cabinet-makers. C. duracina (Bigarou). 

 A species near the former. Drupe edible, and flesh adhering to the stone. Native country unknown,— 

 C. Juliana (Gean). Drupe edible, flesh easily separating from the stone. Native country imknown. 

 — C. caproniana (Griotte). A tree, originally from Asia, brought, it is said, from Cerasonte by Lucullus, 

 after his victories over Mithridates. Fruit edible, much changed by cultivation, flesh acidulous and 

 refreshing.— C. Malialeb. Wood sought after by cabinet-makers under the name of 'wood of St. Lucia. 

 Seed of a mild taste and sweet smell, renowned amongst the Arabs against calculus in the bladder, 

 yielding by expression a fixed oil, employed in perfumery.— C. Padus (Bird Cherry). Bark bitter and 

 astringent, proposed as a substitute for quinine. — C. Lauro-Cerasiis. A tree of Asia Minor, with aromatic 

 leaves yielding by distillation a volatile oil and a considerable amount of hydrocyanic acid. Distilled 

 water medicinal aud narcotic, even in small doses. 



ChrysohalanecB produce edible drupes, among which is the Cocoa Plum of the West Indian Chryso- 

 halanus Icaco, and various other species, as also some of tbe genera Moquilia and Parinarium. The 

 latter genus inhabits both the New World and tropical West Africa. P. excelsum is the Rough Skin 

 or Grey Plum of Sierra Leone ; and P. macrophyllum the Gingerbread Plum of the same colony. The 

 leaves of the Polynesian P. laurinmn are used for thatching, its rough wood for spars, and its seeds for a 

 perfume. 



• Perhaps a French liqueur is here alluded to; the true «oy«!< is a West Indian liqueur flavoured with the 

 seeds of Cerasus ocoidentalis. — Ed. 



