(140) 
may cite the pleurisy root and tuckahoe, roots poisonous 
in their natural condition, but which were important foods 
among the aborigines, who destroyed the poisonous prop- 
erties by prolonged baking. Some of the East Indian 
yams yield the deadly prussic acid, but may be prepared 
as foods by prolonged washing of the thinly sliced root, in 
running water. Tapioca also is made from a deadly 
poisonous root, rendered harmless by the process of 
extraction. 
The number of vegetable foods is so very large that it 
has been found necessary to divide them into a number of 
groups, namely (1) roots and other underground portions, 
(2) herbage, stems and flowers, (3) fleshy or fresh fruits, 
(4) nuts and seeds used in the dried state, and (5) the 
cereal grains and products derived fromthem. The articles 
in each of these classes are then arranged in the natural 
sequence of the families of plants to which they belong. 
Roots, Rootstocks, Tuspers, AND BULBS 
3201. Cat-tail roots;—The rootstock of Typha angustifolia L. (Typhaceae— 
Cat-tail Family). Native of North America and abundant in swamps. 
It was an emergency food of the aborigines. While not very palatable, it is 
capable of sustaining life. Collected by H. H. Rusby in the Arlington 
Marshes of New Jersey, February, 1906. 
3202. Broad-leaved cat-tail roots ——The roots of T. Jatifolia L. Same region and 
use. Collected by J. A. Shafer in February, 1906, in the New York 
Botanical Garden. 
3203. Arrow-head tubers.—The corms of Sagittaria latifolia Willd. (Alismaceae— 
Water Plantain Family). In swamps, United States and Canada. An 
important aboriginal food. Collected at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, October, 
1906, by J. K. Small. 
3204. Tule roots.—The bulbous stem-bases of Scirpus occidentalis (S. Watson) Chase 
(Cyperaceae—Sedge Family). Native of western North America. An 
important aboriginal food. Collected at Toledo, Oregon, in July, 1909, 
by H. H. Rusby. 
3205. Chinese water-chestnut.—The corm of a species of Eleocharis (?). (Same 
family). Native of eastern Asia. An important Chinese food. From 
the New York market. Presented by H. H. Rusby. 
3206. Chufa. Nut-grass. Rush-nut. Earth-nut.—The corms of Cyperus esculen- 
tus L, (Same family). Widely distributed. An important pig-food and 
also eaten by man. 
3207. Calla. Water Arum.—The corms of Calla palustris L. (Araceae—Arum 
