24 



with a balsamic fragrance, and is remarkable for the changes of color it 

 undergoes when brought into contact with various substances. Gluten 

 gives it a blue tint : nitric acid and chlorin change it successively to green, 

 blue, and brown. The resin is used medicinally as also are the bark and wood. 



225. GrUAZUMA tomentosa.— This plant is nearly allied to the chocolate-nut tree, 



and yields fruits that abound in mucilage, as also does the bark of the 

 young shoots. The mucilage is given out in water, and has been used as a 

 substitute for gelatin or albumen in clarifying cane juice in the manufac- 

 ture of sugar. The timber is light, and is employed for the staves of sugar 

 hogsheads ; it is known in Jamaica as bastard cedar. A strong fiber is 

 obtained from the young shoots. 



226. Guilielma speciosa.— The peach palm of Venezuela. The fruits are borne 



in large drooping bunches, and their fleshy outer portion contains starchy 

 matter, which forms a portion of the food of the natives. They are cooked 

 and eaten with salt, and are said to resemble a potato in flavor. A bever- 

 age is prepared by fermenting them m water, and the meal obtained from 

 them is made into bread. The wood of the old trees is black, and so hard 

 as to turn the edge of an ax. 



227. HjEMatoxylon campechianum. — The logwood tree. This dyestuff is largely 



used by calico printers and other dyeing manufacturers. It is also used as 

 an ingredient in some writing inks. The heart wood is the part used for 

 dyeing. This is cut into chips which yield their color to water and alcohol. 

 The colors are various according to treatment, giving violet, yellow, purple, 

 and blue, but the consumption of logwood is for black colors, which are 

 obtained by alum and iron bases. 



228. Hardenbergia monophylla. — An Australian climbing plant of the legumi- 



nous family. The long, carrot-shaped, woody root was called, by the early 

 settlers in that country, sarsaparilla, and is still used in infusion as a sub- 

 stitute for that root. 



229. Hartighsea spectabilis.— A New Zealand tree, called Wahahe by the natives, 



who employ the leaves as a substitute for hops, and also prepare from 

 them a spirituous infusion as a stomachic medicine. 



230. Heliconia bihai. — A plant of the order Musacece, from South America. The 



young shoots are eaten by the natives, and the fruits are also collected and 

 used as food. It also furnishes a useful fiber. 



331. Hevea brasiliensis. — A tree of tropical America growing in damp forests, 

 especially in the Amazon valley, which, together with other trees called 

 siphonia furnish the Para rubber, or American caoutchouc. The sap is col- 

 lected from incisions made in the tree during'the dry season, and is poured 

 over clay molds and dried by gentle heat, successive pourings being made 

 till a sufficiently thick layer is produced. 



232. Hibiscus rosa sinensis. — The flowers of this malvaceous plant contain a 

 quantity of astringent juice, and, when bruised, rapidly turn black or 

 deep purple; they are used by the Chinese ladies for dyeing their hair and 

 eyebrows, and in Java for blacking shoes. 



23:5. Hibiscus sabdariffa. — This species is known in the West Indies as red sor- 

 rel, on account of the calyxes and capsules having an acid taste. They 

 are made into cooling drinks, by sweetening and fermentation. The bark 

 contains, a strong useful fiber which makes good ropes if not too much 

 twisted. It is also known as the Roselee plant. 



234. Hibiscus tiliaceus. — A plant common to many tropical countries. Its wood 



is extremely light when dry, and is employed by the Polynesians for get- 

 ting fire by friction, which is said to be a very tedious and tiresome opera- 

 tion, and difficult to accomplish. Good fiber isalso obtained from the bark. 



235. lIii'ROMANE MANCINELLA.— This is the poisonous manehineel tree of South 



A mericaand oilier tropical regoins. The virulent nature of the juice of this 

 tree has uivrn it a reputation equal to that forced upon the upas tree of Java. 

 The juice is certainly very acrid, and even its smoke, when burning, causes 

 temporary blindness. The fruit is equally dangerous, and from its beauti- 

 ful appearance is sometimes partaken of by those who are unaware of its 

 deleterious properties, but its burning effects Oil the lips soon causes them 

 to desist. Indiansare said to poison their arrows with the juice of this tree. 

 23G. Mi i:\ CREPITANS.— This tropical plant is known as the sand-box tree. Its 

 deep-furrowed, rounded, hard-shelled frail is about the size of an orange, 

 and when ripe and dry. il bursts open with a sharp noise like the report of 



