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DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF PLANTS. 
ABELMOSCHUS MOSCHATUS.—This plant is a native of Bengal. lis 
seeds were formerly mixed with hair-powder, and are still used to per- 
fume pomatum. The Arabs mix them with their coffee-berries. In the 
West Indies the bruised seeds, steeped in rum, are used, both externally 
and internally, as a cure for snake-bites. 
ABRUS PRECATORIUS.—Wild Liquorice. This twining, leguminous 
plant is a native of the East, but is now found in the West Indies, and 
other tropical regions. It is chiefly remarkable for its small oval seeds, 
which are of a brilliant scarlet color, with a black scar at the place 
where they were attached to the pods. These seeds are much used for 
necklaces and other ornamental purposes, and are employed in India as 
a standard of weight, under the name of Rati. The weight of the famous 
Koh-i-noor diamond is known to have been ascertained in this way. 
The roots afford liquorice, which is extracted in the same manner as 
that from the true Spanish Liquorice plant, the Glycyrrhiza glabra. 
ABUTILON VENOSUM.—This Malvaceous plant is common in col- 
lections, as are others of the genus. ‘They are mostly fiber-producing 
species. The fiowers of A. esculentum are used aS a vegetable in 
Brazil. . 
A. INDICUM furnishes fiber fit for the manufacture of ropes. Their 
leaves contain a large quantity of mucilage. | 
ACACIA HOMOLOPHYLLA.—This tree furnishes the scented Myall 
wood, a very hard and heavy wood, of an agreeable odor, resembling 
that of violets. Fancy boxes for the toilet are manufactured of it. 
ACACIA BRASILIENSIS.—This plant furnishes the Brazil wood, which 
yields a red or crimson dye, and is used for dyeing silks. The best 
quality is that received from Pernambuco. 
ACACIA DEALBATA.—The Silver Wattle tree of Australia. The bark 
is used for tanning purposes. It is hardy south. 
ACACIA MELANOXYLON.—The wood of this tree is called Myall wood 
in New South Wales. It is also called Violet wood, on account of the 
strong odor it has of that favorite flower; hence it is in great repute 
for making small dressing-cases, &c. 
ACACIA MOLLISSMIA.—The Black Wattle tree of Australia, which fur- 
nishes a good tanning principle. These trees were first called wattles 
from being used by the early settlers for forming a network or wattling 
of the supple twigs as a substitute for laths in plastering houses. 
ACACIA CATECHU.—The drug known as catechu is principally pre- 
pared from this tree, the wood of which is boiled down, and the decoction 
subsequently evaporated, so as to form an extract much used as an 
astringent. . 
The Acacias are very numerous, and yield many useful products. 
Gum-arabic is produced by several species, as A. vera, A. Arabica, A. 
Adansonii, A. verek, and others. It is obtained by spontaneous exuda- 
tion from the trunk and branches, or by incisions made in the bark, 
from whence it flows in a liquid state, but soon hardens by exposure to 
the air. The largest portion of the gum comes from Barbary. Gum- 
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