24 
tion in chronic catarrh. It is called Bush Tea, and has an agreeable 
tea-like smell, with a sweet astringent taste. 
DACRYDIUM FRANKLINII.—Called Huon pine, because of its being 
found growing near the Huon River, in Tasmania. It belongs to the 
Yew family. It furnishes valuable timber, very durable, and is used for 
ship and house building; some of the wood is very beautifully marked, 
and is used in furniture-making and cabinet-work. 
DAMARA AUSTRALIS.—A singular plant of the Conifere family, called 
the Kauri pine. It forms a tree of 150 to 200 feet in height, and pro- 
duces a hard, brittle resin like copal, which is used in varnish. 
DASYLIRION ACROTRICHUM.—A plant of the Pine-Apple family, from 
Mexico. The leaves contain a fine fiber, which may be ultimately more 
extensively utilized than it is at present. 
DESMODIUM GYRANS.—An interesting plant of the Pea family, called 
the Moving plant, on account of the rotatory motion of the leaflets. 
These move in all conceivable ways, either steadily or by jerks. Some- 
times only one leaf or two on the plant will be affected; at other times a 
nearly simultaneous movement may be seen in all the leaves. These 
movements are most energetic when the thermometer marks about 80 
degrees. This motion is not due to any external or mechanical irritation. 
DIALIUM ACUTIFOLIUM.—The Velvet Tamarind, so called, from the 
circumstance that its seed-pods are covered with a beautiful black velvet 
down; the seeds are surrounded by a farinaceous pulp of an agreeable 
acid taste. 
D.inpum.—Is the Tamarind plum, which hasa delicious pulp of slightly 
acid flavor. 
DICKSONIA ANTARCTICA.—The large tree-fern of Australia. This 
plant attains the height of 30 or more feet, and its fronds or leaves 
spread horizontally some 20 to 25 feet. It is found in snowy regions, 
and would be perfectly hardy south. It is one of the finest objects of 
the vegetable kingdom when of sufficient size to show its true beauties. 
DIEFFENBACHIA SHGUINA.—This has acquired the name of Dumb 
Cane, in consequence of its fleshy, cane-like stems, rendering speech- 
less any person 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. Notwith- 
Standing its acridity, a wholesome starch is prepared from the stem. 
DILLENIA SPECIOSA.—An East India tree, bearing a fruit which is 
used in curries 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. i 
DION EDULE.—A Mexican plant, bearing large seeds containing a 
quantity of starch, which is separated and used as arrow-root. 
Diospyros KAkt.—The Chinese Date Plumor Persimmon. The fruits 
are as large as a medium-sized apple, of a bright-red color, and contain 
a yellow, semi-transparent pulp, resembling the flesh of a plum both in 
appearance and flavor. The Chinese dry them in the sun and make 
them into sweetineats; they are sometimes imported, and in appearance 
resemble large-sized preserved figs. 
DIPrerrx ¢ ODORATA.—This Leguminous plant yields the fragrant seed 
known as Tonka or Tonga Bean, used in scenting snuff and other pur- 
poses of perfumery. The odor resembles that of new-mown hay, and 
is due to the presence of cowmarine. The tree is a native of Cayenne, 
and grows sixty to eighty feet high. 
DORSTENIA CONTRAYERVA.—A plant from tropical America, the 
