8 
ported in chests, in skins of animals, and sometimes in large calabash- 
gourds, and although the taste is peculiarly bitter and disagreeable, the 
perfume of the finer sorts is aromatic, and by no means offensive. It 
is common in tropical countries. 
_ ALSOPHILA AUSTRALIS.—The beautiful tree-fern attains a height of 
stem of 25 to 30 feet, with fronds spreading out into a crest 26 feet in 
diameter. These plants are among the most beautiful of all vegetable 
productions, and in their gigantic forms indicate, in a meager degree, 
the extraordinary beauty of the vegetation on the globe previous to 
the formation of the coal measures. 
ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS.—The Pali-mara, or Devil tree, of Bombay. 
The plant attains a height of 80 or 90 feet ; the bark 1s powerfully bitter, 
and is used in India in medicine. It is of the family of Apocynacee. 
AMOMUM MELEGUETTA.—Malaguetta Pepper, or Grains of Paradise; 
belongs to the Ginger family, Zingiberacew. The seeds of this and 
other species are imported from Guinea; they have a very warm and 
camphor-like taste, and are used to give a fictitious strength to adul- 
terated liquors, but are not considered particularly injurious to health. 
The seeds are aromatic and stimulating, and form, with other seeds of 
similar plants, what are known as Cardamoms. 
AMYRIS BALSAMIFERA.—This plant yields the wood called Lignum 
Rhodium. It also furnishes a gum resin analogous to EKlemi, and sup- 
posed to yield Indian Bdellium. 
ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE.—The Cashew Nut tree; is cultivated in 
the West Indies and other tropical countries. The stem furnishes a 
milky juice, which becomes hard and black when dry, and is used as a 
varnish. It also secretes a gum, like gum-arabic.. The nut or fruit 
contains a black, acrid, caustic oil, injurious to the lips and tongue of 
those who attempt to crack the nut with their teeth; it becomes innoc- 
uous and wholesome when roasted, but this process must be carefully 
conducted, the acridity of the fumes producing severe inflammation of 
the face if approached too near. 
ANANASSA SATIVA.—The well-known Pine-Apple, the fruit of which 
was described three hundred years ago, by Jean de Lery, a Huguenot 
priest, as being of such excellence that the gods might luxuriate upon 
it, and that it should only be gathered by the hand of a Venus. It is 
supposed to be a native of Brazil, and to have been carried from thence 
to the West, and afterward to the East Indies. It first became known 
to Europeans in Peru. It is universally acknowledged to be one of the 
most delicious fruits in the world. Like all other fruits that have been 
a long time under cultivation, there are numerous varieties that vary 
greatly, both in quality and appearance. . 
ANDIRA INERMIS.—This is a native of Senegambia. Its bark is an- 
thelmintic, but requires care in its administration, being powerfully 
narcotic. It has a sweetish taste but disagreeable smell, and is gener- 
ally given in the form of a decoction, which is made by boiling an 
ounce of the dried bark in a quart of water, until it assumes the color 
of Madeira wine. Three or four grains of the powdered bark acts as a 
powerful purgative. The bark is known as Bastard Cabbage bark, or 
Worm bark. It is almost obsolete in medicine. 
ANDIRA ANTHELMINTICA.—This plant is called the Cabbage tree in 
the West Indies. Its bark is anthelmintic and powerfully narcotic. 
ANDROPOGON SCH ANANTHUS.—The sweet-scented Lemon grass; is a 
native of Malabar. An essential oil is distilled from the leaves, which 
is used in perfumery. It is a favorite herb with the Asiatics, both for 
