8 DICTIONAEY OF POPULAR NAMES ALDER 



Alder {Alnus glutinosa), a tree of tlie Birch family (Betu- 

 lace^), common in tMs country and throughout Europe. It 

 has soft wood, which soon decays, but is of great durability 

 when placed underground or in water. In some places it is 

 largely grown for making charcoal, which is used in the pre- 

 paration of inferior kinds of gunpowder. Bowls and other 

 domestic utensils are made of the wood. 



Alerse, a name in Chili for Zihocedrus tetragona, a large tree 

 of the Cypress tribe of Coniferae, native of Chili. It is highly 

 valued for its timber, and forms an important article of export 

 trade from Chili. Its grain is so straight that it can be split into 

 boards that look as smooth as though they had been planed. 



Alexanders {Smymium Ohcsatrum), a biennial of the Carrot 

 and Parsnip family (Umbelliferae), cultivated for its leaf-stalks, 

 *«h . J a pliL. somatic Javou,. ,.d a. one tine we 

 blanched and used instead of celery. The leaves were likewise 

 employed in flavouring soups. It is now, however, seldom if 

 ever cultivated, celery having taken its place. 



Alexandrian Laurel. {See Butcher's broom.) 



Algaroba, the Spanish name for the pods of several species 

 of Prosopis, a genus allied to Acacia of the Bean family (Legumi- 

 nosaj), consisting of hard- wooded thorny trees seldom exceeding 

 30 feet in height, occupying extensive tracts in the western 

 countries of America from Peru to Colorado on the north. 

 They may be considered to represent the Acacia Seyal, A, 

 nilotica, and A, araUca of Western Asia and Africa. Their 

 pods contain a sweet mucilage of the same nature as the carob 

 tree. In Peru F. dulcis — there called Paray (also common in 

 Mexico) — with P homdits, occupies extensive tracts called 

 " pastures," a name consequent on the pods being extensively 

 used as food for cattle. The pods of P. dulcis are described as 

 from 20 to 24 inches long, enclosing black seeds embedded in 

 white pulp, which is sweet and is eaten by the natives. This 

 species has been by the Spaniards introduced to the Philippine 

 Islands, and thence to India. It is extensively planted in the 

 Madras Presidency by the sides of railways, and there called 



