43 
Diable in San Domingo; it is acrid and caustic in the highest degree, 
and is a most energetic blistering agent when fresh. 
PLUMIERIA ALBA.—A South American plant. The flowers are used 
in perfumery, and furnish the scent known as Frangipane. 
POGOSTEMON PATCHOULY.—This plant affords the celebrated patch- 
ouli perfume. The peculiar odor of patchouli is disagreeable to some, 
but is very popular with many persons. The odoriferous part of the 
plant is the leaves and young tops, which yield a volatile oil by distil- 
lation, from which an essence is prepared; sachets of patchouli are 
made of coarsely powdered leaves. Genuine Indian shawls and Indian 
ink were formerly distinguished by their odor of this perfume, but the 
test does not now hold good. Ll effects, such as loss of sleep, nervous 
attacks, &c., have been ascribed to its extensive use. 
POMADERRIS APETALA.—A plant of the Buckthorn family, from New 
South Wales; it yields a hard, close-grained wood, there called Cooper’s 
wood. 
PONGAMIA GLABRA.—Some years ago this tree was recommended as 
suitable for avenue-planting in the south of France. In India an oil 
called poonga is expressed from the seeds, and much used for mixing 
with lamp-oil. It is of a deep yellow color, and is fluid at temperatures 
above sixty degrees Fahrenheit, but below that it becomes solid. 
PORTLANDIA GRANDIFLORA.—This plant belongs to the cinchona- 
ceous family, and is said to possess properties similar to those of the 
true Cinchona. The bark is exceedingly bitter. . 
PSIDIUM PYRIFERUM.—The West Indian Guava; a well-known fruit 
in the tropics, but only known here in the shape of guava-jelly. The 
wood of the tree has a fine, close grain, and has been experimented 
with as a substitute for box-wood for engraving purposes, but it is too 
soft to stand the pressure of printing. 
PsipiuM CATTLEYANUM.—This is the purple guava from China. The 
fruits are filled with juicy, pale flesh, of a very agreeable acid-sweet 
flavor. { 
PSYCHOTRIA LEUCANTHA.—A plant belonging to the cinchona family. 
Emetic properties are assigned to the roots, which are also used in 
dyeing. Native of Peru. 
PTEROCARPUS MARSUPIUM.—This tree affords gum-kino, which is 
obtained by making incisions in the bark, from which the juice exudes 
and hardens into a brittle mass, easily broken into smal! angular, 
shining fragments of a bright ruby color. It is highly astringent. 
The wood is hard and valuable for manufacturing purposes. 
PUNICAGRANATUM.—The Pomegranate; is a native of Northern Africa 
and Western Asia. The fruit is valued in warm countries on account 
of its delicious cooling and refreshing pulp. Numerous varieties are 
grown, some being sweet and vinous, and others acid, or of a bitter, 
stringent taste; the color also varies from light to dark red. The bark 
of the root abounds in a peculiar principle called punicin. This bark 
appears to have been known to the ancients, and used by them asa 
vermifuge, and is still used in Hindostar as a specific against tapeworm. 
The rind of the fruit of the bitter varieties contains a large amount of 
tannin, and is used for tanning morocco leather. The flowers yield a 
red dye. 
QUASSIA AMARA.—The wood of this plant furnishes Surinam quassia. 
It is destitute of smell, but has an intensely bitter taste, and is used as 
a tonic. The root has also reputed medicinal value, as also have the 
flowers. 
QUILLAJA SAPONARIA.—The Quillai or Cullay of the Chilians. Its 
