54 



illuminant or for soap-making (Pharm. Journ. [4] xxiii. p. 590) ; 

 and also as a preventive against the attacks of the white ants and 

 borers (Agric. Ledg. No. 5, 1907, p. 37). In Mexico it is used for 

 furniture polish (Loudon, Encycl. PL p. 1056), and in S. America 

 where it is also employed by painters (Agric. Ledg. No. 5, 1907, 

 p. 37). Two samples of oil from Bengal, examined at the Imperial 

 Institute, were classed as drying oils. (For analysis see Tech. 

 Rep. and Sci. Papers, Imp. Inst. pp. 126-127.) 



The plant is a common weed in many places, and its culti- 

 vation would doubtless be easy. A light rich soil is most suitable. 

 It is remarkable for standing drought well, and for the ample 

 production of seed. 



Ref. — Diet. Econ. Prod. Ind. — " An Account of the Genus 

 Argemone," Prain, in Journ. Bot. 1895, pp. 209, 308.—" The Seeds 

 and Oil of the Mexican Poppy," D. Hooper, in Agric. Ledg., No. 5, 

 1907, pp. 35-39.—" The Weeds of New South Wales " (Argemone 

 mexicana), Agric. Gaz. N.S. Wales, April, 1891, p. 175. 



CAPPARIDACEAE. 



Gynandropsis, DC. 

 Gynandropsis pentaphylla, DC. ; Fl. Trop. Afr. I. p. 82. 



IiL— Rheede, Hort. Mai. ix. t. 24 ; Gray, Gen. t. 78 ; Mart. Fl. 

 Bras. xiii. pt. i. t. 58. 



Vernac. names. — Ekuya (Yoruba, Millson) ; Mozembue or 

 Mozambue (Loanda, Welwitsch). 



Oshogbo, Yoruba ; Niger ; Kouka ; Bornu. Cosmopolitan in 

 the Tropics. 



In Yoruba the natives use the roasted leaves as a cure for ear- 

 ache, the juice also is mixed with palm-kernel oil and squeezed 

 into the ear. The leaves are used as a pot-herb in Nigeria and 

 in India (Watt), and eaten like spinach by the natives of Loanda 

 (Welwitsch). 



The seeds are anthelmintic, and together with the leaves are 

 applied to various medicinal purposes in India (Watt). 



The plant is said to yield an acrid volatile oil, having the pro- 

 perties of garlic or mustard oil ; and to possess the antiscorbutic 

 properties of Nasturtium and Cochlearia (Planchon & Collin, 

 Drog. Simpl. ii. p. 822). 



Maerua, Forsk. 



Maerua angolensis, DO. ; Fl. Trop. Afr. I. p. 86. 



III. — Guillem. Perr. Rich. Fl. Senegamb. t. 7 (m. seneyalensis) ; 

 Deless. Ic. iii. t. 13. 



Nupe. 



The wood is yellowish, of fine close grain, very hard and heavy, 

 suitable for joinery work, and capable of taking a fine polish 

 (De Wildeman, PI. Util. Congo, Art. xxvi. p. 379). 



