24 DICTIONABY OF POPULAR NAMES ARECA 



alpina has black berries, and A. Uva-ursi red, and is known by 

 the name of Bearberry. 



Areca Palm. (See Betel Nut.) 



Argan Tree {Argania sideroxyloTi), a low spreading busli or 

 small tree of the Star Apple family (Sapotacese), having small 

 leaves. It is a native of Morocco and western parts of IsTorth 

 Mrica. The fruit is usually about the size of a small plum, 

 but varies very much both in size and shape ; it is so abundant 

 that it is collected and used for feeding cattle, the skin and 

 pulp being much rehslied ; but in chewing the cud they eject 

 the hard kernels, which are collected and crushed, when an oil 

 is obtained from them. Introduced to this country about l70 

 years ago, but is not sufficiently hardy to stand in the open air ; 

 a plant growing against the wall at Kew was destroyed by the 

 cold of January 1838. 



Argel, or Arghel, an Arabian name for Solenostemma Argel, 

 a perennial herb of the Swallowwort family (Asclepiadacese), 

 native of Arabia and Egypt, where its leaves are said to be used 

 for adulterating senna. 



Arnatto (Bixa Orellana), a small tree with heart-shaped 

 leaves of the Indian Plum family (Bixacese), originally a native 

 of South America, but now dispersed throughout tropical regions 

 generally. The fruit is a dry prickly husk, about an inch in 

 length, consisting of two valves ; when ripe of a brown colour ; 

 the seeds are numerous, covered with orange -coloured pulp, 

 which hardens when dry, and being separated from the seeds 

 forms the Arnatto of commerce. The Indians of Guiana and 

 other parts of tropical America paint their bodies with it. In 

 this country it is used by silk-dyers and varnish-makers, also 

 for colouring cheese, cream, and chocolate. 

 Arracacha. {See Carrot.) 

 Arrack. {See Wine Pabn.) 



Arrowhead, a common name for {Sagittaria sagitifolia) a 

 perennial aquatic herb of the Water Plantain family (Alismaceo^), 

 native of Britain, common on the undisturbed banks of the 

 Thames near London. It has a fleshy corm varying in size, 



