macb] 



Ctje {Ercagurj? of Matmxy. 



70S 



its near allies it is a deep-sea Alga, it re- 

 quires a depth of at least six fathoms for 

 its growth. [M. J. B.] 



MACROMERIA. A genus of Boragi- 

 nacece, allied to Lithospermum, from which 

 it differs by the exserted stamens, and by 

 having the corolla with a long tube, dilated 

 at the throat. They are Mexican strigose 

 herbs, with simple stems, lanceolate ser- 

 rated leaves, and terminal few-flowered 

 bracteated racemes. [J. T. SJ 



MACROPIPER. This word, signifying 

 large pepper, is applied to a genus of 

 Piperacece, consisting of shrubs, natives of 

 the islands of the Pacific, andhaving erect 

 wavy knotted stems, alternate leaves on 

 stalks that are dilated at the base, and pro- 

 vided with stipules, the blades of the 

 leaves roundish or cordate with radiating 

 venation. The male flowers are arranged 

 in solitary catkins, the females in nume- 

 rous catkins, placed in the axil of a leaf. 

 Jf. methysticum, formerly called Piper me- 



Macropiper methysticum. 



tliysticum, furnishes the root called by the 

 Polynesians Ava or Kava, which has nar- 

 cotic properties, and is employed medici- 

 nally in rheumatism and other complaints, 

 but is chiefly remarkable for the value at- 

 tached to it as a narcotic and stimulant 

 beverage, of which the natives partake be- 

 fore they undertake any important busi- 

 ness or religious rites. The approved 

 method of preparing the Kava is to chew 

 I the root, and thus extract the juice. Dr. 

 Seemann, in some letters from the Feejee 

 Islands, printed in the Athenmwi (1861), 

 gives some amusing information con- 

 cerning this plant and its uses. It appears 

 that Kava has, like tobacco, a calming 

 effect, rather than an intoxicating one, 

 unless indeed the juice be fermented, as is 

 done by the European residents in some 

 of the islands of the South Sea. Dr. See- 

 mann. however, tells us that the Feejeans 

 pride themselves on the non-intoxicating 

 properties of Kaya, that it does not make 

 the partakers quarrelsome, and that drunk 

 in moderation it does not appear to have 

 any ill effect upon the system, but when 

 used iu excess it produces numerous skin 



\ diseases. All the lower classes of whites 

 in Feejee are Kava drinkers, and most of 

 them prefer the drink prepared in regular 

 Polynesian fashion. The more respectable 

 of the population refrain from touching the 

 filthy preparation. Another species of this, 



| or some allied genus, is used similarly 

 in the formation of a beverage, differing 

 from Kava, and having, according to Dr. 

 Seemann, a flavour of soap-suds combined 

 with jalap and magnesia. [M. T. M.] 



MACROPODIUM. A genus of Cruciferce, 

 j allied to Cardamine and Parrya,irom both 

 ' of which it differs in the pod, which is ob- 

 long-linear with plane one-nerved valves, 

 j being stipitate. A perennial Alpine plant 

 i from the Altai, with a terminal raceme of 

 white flowers. " [J.T.S.] 



MACRORHYNCHTJS. A genus including 

 i about a dozen annual or perennial stemless 

 herbs of the composite, family, found in 

 Oregon, California, and Chili. They have 

 much resemblance to and affinity with 

 Taraxacum, differing chiefly in the cylin- 

 drical ribbed achenes being destitute of 

 any roughness, and being produced into a 

 long beak, terminating in a pappus of nu- 

 merous soft white hairs. [A. A. B.] 



MACROSTYLIS. A genus of rutaceous 

 shrubs, natives of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 and nearly allied to Barosma. The dis- 

 tinctive characters reside in the presence 

 of five stamens only, and in the three car- 

 pels, terminated at their points by a single 

 style, longer than the stamens. The red- 

 dish flowers are arranged in a kind of 

 umbel on the ends of the branches. The 

 orchidaceous genus of this name is sy- 

 nonymous with Corymbis. [M. T. M.] 



MACROZAMIA. A genus of Cycadacece, 

 consisting of Australian trees, living iu 

 swampy places near the sea. The genus is 

 described as intermediate between Cycas 

 and Encephalartos. The rachis of the leaves 

 is twisted in the young condition, the leaf- 

 lets themselves being flat. The male 

 flowers are borne on spoon-shaped pointed 

 spikes, the pollen being collected in two 

 spaces on the under surface of the anthers, 

 and not diffused over the whole surface as 

 in Enceplialartos. The female spikes bear 

 only two flowers. [M. T. M.] 



MACULA (adj. MACULATE). A broad 

 irregular spot or blotch. 



MACUSON. (Fr.) Latliyrus tuberosius. 

 MADAR, or MUDAR. The produce of 

 Calotropis gigantea. 



MADARIA. A genus of Composite, com- 

 prising two Californian annuals, closely 

 allied to Madia, distinguished chiefly by 

 the longer and more expanded ray florets, 

 and by the florets of the disk being con- 

 stantly sterile. The flower-heads form a 

 loose terminal corymb with yellow florets. 



MADAROGLOSSA. Layia. 



MADDER.. The root of liubia tinctoria, 

 which is sometimes called Dyer's Madder. 

 — , BENGAL. Bubia cordifolia. — , CHILI. 



