!19 



K\)t QTxtcL$\iYy at Matmy. 



[CARA 



with red lead and other less objectionable 

 substances. The hot taste seems to be 

 due to a peculiar acrid fluid called Coptic in, 

 ■which is so pungent that half a grain of it 

 volatilised in a large room, causes all who i 

 respire the contained air to cough and I 

 sneeze. It is remarkable that the narcotic 

 properties, which are possessed by most of 

 the Solanacecc to a greater or less extent, 

 are not present in Capsicum^- though this 

 is open to some doubt, as it is said that 

 some of the American species have nar- 

 cotic properties residing in the pulpy 

 matter in which the seeds are imbedded, 

 this pulp being absent in those kinds 

 which are used for their pungent pro- 

 perties. 



Capsicum fruits are used medicinally, m 

 powder or as a tincture, as an external 

 application, or as a gargle in certain cases 

 of sore throat, particularly those of a 

 malignant character, and internally as a 

 stimulant in cases of impaired digestion, 

 &c. Several kinds are cultivated in this 

 countrv, as objects of curiosity, and for 

 the sake of their fruits. [M. T. M.] 



The species of Capsicum are chiefly 

 natives of the East and West Indies, 

 China, Brazil, and Egypt, where they are 

 much esteemed for their pungent fruit 

 and seeds, which, under the name of 

 Cayenne Pepper, or Chillies, form an 

 indispensable condiment, which Nature 

 herself appears to have pointed out to 

 persons resident within the tropics. Ac- 

 cording to Sir R. Schomburgk, the natives 

 in Guiana eat the fruit of these plants in 

 such abundance as would not be credited 

 by an European unless he were to see i t( Jour. 

 Hon. Soc. ii. 153). In Jamaica the species 

 most esteemed is the Bonnet Pepper (C. 

 tcirnqonumi, the fruits of which are very 

 fleshy, and have a depressed form, like a 

 Scotch bonnet. The shrubby Capsicum, or 

 Spur Pepper (C. frutescens), is a native of 

 the East Indies, and has been in our gar- 

 dens since 1656. It forms a dwarf bushy 

 shrub, with whitefiowers, and bears numer- 

 ous small oblong obtuse pods, which are 

 very pungent, and in their green and ripe 

 state are used for pickling, as well as for 

 making Chilli vinegar. This is done by 

 merely putting a handful of pods into a 

 bottle, and afterwards filling it with best 

 vinegar, which in several weeks will be fit 

 for use. But the chief purpose for which 

 this species is cultivated is for making 

 Cayenne pepper, which is often prepared 

 by' drying the pods on a hot plate, or in a 

 Blow oven, and then pounding them in a 

 mortar, and passing them through a hand- 

 mill until the whole is reduced to the finest 

 possible state. After this has been done, 

 the powder is to be sifted through a thin 

 muslin sieve, and preserved in well-corked 

 glass bottles for use. The common annual 

 Capsicum, or Guinea Pepper (C. annuum), 

 was introduced into Europe by the Spa- 

 niards. It was cultivated in England in 

 1548, and is sufficiently hardy to thrive in 

 summer against a south wall in the open 

 air, and mature its fruit. The colour, 

 direction, and figure of the latter is very 



variable — some being yellow, others red, 

 and others black. In a green state they 

 are used for pickling, and Avhen ripe are 

 mixed with tomatos, &c, to form sauces. 

 They are also dried and ground for use like 

 Cayenne pepper. The Berry-bearing Capsi- 

 cum, or Bird Pepper (C. baccatum), is 

 indigenous to both the East and West 

 Indies, and has been grown in this country 

 since 1731. Its pods are erect, roundish, 

 egg-shaped, very pungent, and when ripe 

 are dried and used for the same purposes 

 as those of other kinds of Capsicum. They 

 also form one of the chief ingredients in 

 the preparation known in the West Indies 

 as man-dram, which is usually resorted to 

 by those affected with loss of appetite or 

 weak digestion, and consists of cucumbers 

 sliced very thin, shallots or onions chopped 

 very fine, a little lime juice and Madeira 

 wine, to which is added a handful of the 

 pods of this pepper, and the whole arethen 

 mashed together, and mixed with as much 

 liquid as may be thought necessary. 

 Besides the three species noticed as being 

 the kinds most generally cultivated, there 

 are many other species and varieties 

 occasionally grown for the sake of their 

 pods, all of which yield a warm acrid oil, 

 which acts powerfully on the stomach, and 

 is thought to correct flatulency, and assist 

 digestion. [W. B. B.] 



CAPSOMANIA. An unnatural deveiope- 

 ment of pistils, which may consist either 

 of an excessive multiplication or of such a 

 derangement as impedes their functions. 

 In the first case the unusual demands for 

 nutritive matter cannot be met, and the 

 fruit becomes small and abortive ; in the 

 latter, as in green-centred roses, bladder 

 plums, &c, the ovules being imperfect 

 do not come to perfection. [M. J. B.] 



CAPSULE. Any dry dehiscent seed- 

 vessel. A spurious capsule is any dry seed- 

 vessel tliatisnot dehiscent. Also employed 

 among fungals, to denote certain kinds of 

 perithecia, or receptacles. 



CAPUCHON. (Fr.) Arisarum vulgare. 



CAPUCINE. (Fr.) Tropceolum. 



CAPUT. The peridium of certain fun- 

 gals. — , RADICIS. The crown of a root. 

 The very short stem, or rather bud, which 

 terminates he roots of herbaceous plants. 



CAQUILLIER. (Fr.) Cakile. 



CARA BIN. (Fr.) Fagopyrum esculentum. 



CARACRTCHU. A Brazilian name for 



Solanum nigrum. 



CARAGANA. (Fr.) Caragana arbores- 

 cens. —, ARGENTE'. Halimodendrou 

 argenteum. — , DE LA CHINE. Caragana 

 Clunnhigu. — , DE SIBE'RIE. Caragana 

 frutescens. 



CARAGANA. The Siberian Pea Tree. 



Trees or shrubs belonging to the legumi- I 



nous order, natives of Siberia and the East, ! 

 with pinnate leaves of which the midrib 



terminates in a bristle or spine instead of i 



a leaflet, and axillary flowers, either solitary i 



