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an orange, and, when ripe and dry, its bursts open with a sharp noise 
Jike the report of a pistol; hence, it is also called the Monkey’s Dinner- 
Bell. An emetic oil is extracted from the seeds, and a venomons, milky 
juice is abundant in all parts of the plant. 
HYMEN ZA COURBARIL.—The Locust Tree of the West Indies; also 
ealled Algarroba in tropical regions. This is one of the very largest- 
erowing trees known, and living trees in Brazil are supposed to have 
been growing at the commencement of the Christian era. The timber 
is very hard, and is much used for building purposes. A valuable resin, 
resembling the anime of Africa, exudes from the trunk, and large lumps 
of it are found about the roots of old trees. 
HYPH NE THEBAICA.—The Doum, or Doom palm, or Gingerbread of 
Egypt; grows also in Nubia, Abyssinia, and Arabia. The fibrous; mealy 
husks of the seeds are eaten, and taste almost like gingerbread. Teo 
eat them, however, is equal to eating hay. 
IcIcA HEPTAPHYLLA.—The Incense tree of Guiana; is a tall-growing 
tree, furnishing wood of great durability. It is called Cedar Wood on 
account of its fragrant odor. The balsam from the trunk is highly odor- 
iferous, and used in perfumery, and is known as balsam of acouchi; it 
is used in medicine. The balsam and branches are burned as incense 
in churches. 
ILEX PARAGUAYENSIS.—This is the Tea plant of South America, where 
it occupies the same important position in the domestic economy of the 
country as the Chinese tea does in this. The maté is prepared by drying 
and roasting the leaves, which are then reduced to a powder and made 
into packages. When used, a small portion of the powder is placed in 
a vessel, sugar is added, and boiling water poured over the whole. It 
has an agreeable, slightly aromatic odor, rather bitter to the taste, but 
very refreshing and invigorating to the human frame after severe fatigue. 
It acts in some degree as an aperient and diuretic, and in over-doses 
produces intoxication. It contains the same active principle, theine, as 
tea and coffee, but not their volatile and empyreumatic oils. 
ILLICIUM ANISATUM.—This magnoliaceous plant is a native of China, 
and its fruit furnishes the star anise of commerce. In China, Japan, 
and India, it is used as a condiment in the preparation of food, and is 
chewed as a promoter of digestion, and the native physicians prescribe 
it asa carminative. It is the flavoring ingredient of the preparation 
Anisette de Bordeaux. Its flavor and odor are due toa volatile oil, which 
is extracted by distillation, and sold as oil of anise, which is really a dif- 
ferent article. 
ILLICIUM FLORIDANUM.—A native of the Southern States. The 
leaves are said to be poisonous; hence, the plant is sometimes called 
Poison Bag. The bark has been used as a substitute for cascarilla. 
ILLICIUM RELIGIOSUM.—A Japanese species, which reaches the size of 
a small tree, and is held sacred by the Japanese, who form wreaths of 
it with which to decorate the tombs of their deceased friends, and they 
also burn the fragrant bark as incense. Their watchmen use the pow- 
dered bark for burning in graduated tubes, in order to mark the time, 
as it consumes slowly and uniformly. The leaves are said to possess 
poisonous properties. 
_ INDIGOFERA TINCTORIA.—The Indigo plant is a native of Asia, but 
is Cultivated and naturalized in many countries. The use of indigo as 
a dye is of great antiquity. Both Dioscorides and Pliny mention it, and 
it is supposed to have been employed by the ancient Egyptians. The 
indigo of commerce is prepared by throwing the fresh-cut plants into 
water, where they are steeped for 12 hours, when the water is run off 
