40 



405. Tectona grandis. — The teak tree. Teak wood has been extensively employed 



for shipbuilding in the construction of merchant vessels and ships of war; 

 its great strength and durability, the facility with which it can be worked, 

 and its freedom from injury by fungi, rendering it peculiarly suitable for 

 these purposes. It is a native of the East India Islands, and belongs to the 

 order Verbenacece. 



406. Terminalia catappa. — The astringent fruits of this tropical plant are employed 



for tanning and dyeing, and are sometimes met with in commerce under 

 the name of myrobalans, and used by calico printers for the production of 

 a permanent black. The seeds are like almonds in shape and whiteness, 

 but, although palatable, have a peculiar flavor. 



407. Tetranthera laurifolta. — This plant is widely dispersed over tropical Asia 



and the islands of the Eastern Archipelago. Its leaves and young branches 

 abound in a viscid juice, and in Cochin-China the natives bruise and mace- 

 rate them until this becomes glutinous, when it is used for mixing with 

 plaster, to thicken and render it more adhesive and durable. Its fruits 

 yield a solid fat, used for making candles, although it has a most disagree- 

 able odor. 



408. Thea viridis. — This is the China tea plant, whose native country is undeter- 



mined. All kinds and grades of the teas of commerce are made from 

 this species, although probably it has some varieties. Black and green 

 teas are the result of different modes of preparation; very much of the 

 green, however, is artificiary colored to suit the foreign trade. The finest 

 teas do not reach this country; they will not bear a sea voyage, and are 

 used only by the wealthy classes in China and Russia. The active princi- 

 ples of the leaves are theine and a volatile oil, to which latter the flavor and 

 odor are due. So far as climate is concerned for the existence of the tea 

 plant in the United States, it will stand in the open air without injury 

 from Virginia southwards. A zero frost will not kill it. But with regard 

 to its production as a profitable crop, the rainfall in no portion of the States 

 is sufficient to warrant any attempt to cultivate the plant for commercial 

 purposes. But this does not prevent its culture as a domestic article, and 

 many hundreds of families thus prepare all the tea they require, from 

 plants it may be from the pleasure ground or lawn, where the plant forms 

 one of the best ornaments. 



409. Theobroma cacao. — This plant produces the well-known cacao, or chocolate, 



and is very extensively cultivated in South America and the West India 

 Islands. The fruit, which is about 8 to 10 inches in length by 3 to 5 in 

 breadth, contains between fifty and a hundred seeds, and from these the cacao 

 is prepared. As an article of food it contains a large amount of nutritive 

 matter, about 50 per cent being fat. It contains a peculiar principle, 

 which is called theobromine. 



410. Theophrasta jussi^i. — A native of St. Domingo, where it is sometimes 



called Le petit Coca. The fruit is succulent, and bread is made from the 

 seeds. 



411. Thespesia populnea. — A tropical tree, belonging to the mallow family. The 



inner bark of the young branches yields a tough fiber, fit for cordage, and 

 used in Demerara for making coffee bags, and the finer pieces of it for cigar 

 envelopes. The wood is considered almost indestructible under water, and 

 its hardness and durability render it valuable for various purposes. The 

 flower buds and unripe fruits yield a viscid yellow juice, useful as a dye, 

 and a thick, deep, red-colored oil is expressed from the seeds. 



412. Thevetia neriifolia. — This shrubby plant is common in the West Indies 



and in many pnrts of Central America. Its bark abounds in a poisonous 

 milky juice, and is said to possess powerful properties. A clear, bright, 

 yellow-colored oil, called Exile oil, is obtained, by expression, from the 

 seeds. 



413. Thrinax argentea. — This beautiful palm is called the Silver Thatch palm 



of Jamaica, and is said to yield the leaves so extensively used in the manu- 

 facture of hats, baskets, and other articles. It is also a native of Panama, 

 where it is called the broom palm, its leaves being there made into brooms. 



414. Tillandsia zebrina. — A South American plant of the pineapple family; the 



bottle-like cavity at the base of the leaves will sometimes contain a pint or 

 more of water, and has frequently furnished a grateful drink to thirsty 

 travelers. 



