19 



who may happen to bite them, their acrid poison causing the tongue to 

 swell to an immense size. An ointment for applying to dropsical swellings 

 is prepared by boiling the juice in lard. Notwithstanding its acridity, a 

 wholesome starch is prepared from the stem. 



107. DlLLENIA speciosa. — An East Indian tree, bearing a fruit which is used in cur- 

 ries and for making jellies. Its slightly acid juice, sweetened with sugar, 

 forms a cooling beverage. The wood is very tough, and is used for making 

 gun-stocks. 



1G8. Dion edule. — A Mexican plant, bearing large seeds containing a quantity of 

 starch, which is separated and used as arrow root. 



1G9. Diospyros ebenum.— An East Indian tree which in part yields the black 

 ebony wood of commerce, much used in fancy cabinetwork and turnery, 

 door knobs, pianoforte keys, etc. 



170. Diospyros kaki. — The Chinese date plum or persimmon. The fruits vary in size 



from that of a medium-sized apple to that of a large pear ; they also vary 

 much in their flavor and consistency, some being firm, and others having a 

 soft custard-like pulp, very sweet and luscious. The Chinese dry them in 

 the sun and make them into sweetmeats ; they are sometimes imported, 

 and in appearance resemble large-sized preserved figs. These plants are 

 being quite largely cultivated in some of the southern States, and the fruit 

 is entering commerce. 



171. Dipterix odorata. — This leguminous plant yields the fragrant seed known 



as Tonka bean, used in scenting snuff and for other purposes of prefumery. 

 The odor resembles that of new-mown hay, and is due to the presence of 

 coumarine. The tree is a native of Cayenne and grows 60 to 80 feet high. 



172. Dorstenia contrayerva. — A plant from tropical America, the roots of which 



are used in medicine under the name of Contrayerva root. 



173. Dracaena draco. — The Dragon's Blood tree of Teneriffe. This liliaceous 



plant attains a great age and enormous size. The resin obtained from this 

 tree has been found in the sepulchral caves of the Cuanches, and hence it 

 is supposed to have been used by them in embalming the dead. Trees of 

 this species, at present in vigorous health, are supposed to be as old as the 

 pyramids of Egypt. 



174. Drac^enopsis Australis. — Ti or cabbage tree of New Zealand. The whole 



of this plant is fibrous and has been used for paper making. The juice of 

 the roots and stem contains a small amount of sugar and has been used for 

 producing alcohol. 



175. Drimys winteri. — This plant belongs to the magnolia family and furnishes the 



aromatic tonic known as Winter's bark. It is a native of Chili and the 

 Strait of Magalhaens. 



176. Dryobalanops aromatica. — A native of the Island of Sumatra. It furnishes 



a liquid called camphor oil and a crystalline solid known as Sumatra or 

 Borneo camphor. Camphor oil is obtained from incisions in the tree, and 

 has a fragrant, aromatic odor. It has been used for scenting soap. The 

 solid camphor is found in cracks of the wood, and is obtained by cutting 

 down the tree, dividing it into blocks and small pieces, from the interstices 

 of which the camphor is extracted. It differs from the ordinary camphor 

 in being more brittle and not condensing on the sides of the bottle in which 

 it is kept. It is much esteemed by the Chinese, who attribute many vir- 

 tues to it. It has been long known and is mentioned by Marco Polo in the 

 thirteenth century. 



177. Dubosia hopwoodii. — The leaves of this Australian plant are chewed by the 



natives of Central Australia, just as the Peruvians and Chilians masticate 

 the leaves of the Erythroxylon coca, to invigorate themselves during their 

 long foot journeys through the country. They are known as Pitury leav< s. 



178. DURIO zibethinus.— A common tree in the Malayan Islands, where its fruit 



forms a great part of the food of the natives, it is said to havea most deli- 

 cious flavor combined with a most offensive odor, but when once tin ■ repug- 

 nance of the peculiar odor is overcome it becomes a general favorite. The 

 unripe fruit is cooked and eaten, and the seeds roasted and used like chest- 

 nuts. 



179. Eljeis uuineknsis. — The African oil palm is a native of southwestern Africa. 



but has been introduced into other regions. It grows to a height of 20 to 30 



