BDELLIUM OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 41 



Bast, a general name applied to the inner bark of many 

 plants, used for making cord and mats. Bass, or as they are 

 generally called, garden mats, are made from the bark of the 

 lime tree {Tilia eibTo;pcea) and are imported from Russia. 



Bast, Cuba (Paritium elatum), a tree of the Mallow family 

 (Malvaceae), a native of Cuba and Jamaica. A slender-stemmed 

 tree attaining the height of from 50 to 60 feet, with large, cor- 

 date, smooth green leaves. The timber is of a greenish colour, 

 and is used in Jamaica in cabinet-work ; but the most important 

 part is its beautiful lace-like inner bark, which was originally 

 employed for tying up bundles of real Havannah cigars. About 

 thirty years ago it was largely imported into this country for 

 garden purposes, but it has now fallen into disuse. In Jamaica 

 it is called mountain mahoe. Other species of Faritium have 

 tough bark, especially P. tiliaccicm, a native of tropical coasts, 

 and abounding throughout the islands of the Pacific, where its 

 bark is largely employed by the natives for making ropes and 

 nets, and its light wood for canoes. 



Batatas. {See Potato, Sweet.) 



Bawchan Seeds, a name given in India to the seeds of 

 PsoraUa corylifolia, a herb of the Bean family (Leguminosse), 2 

 feet high. The pods are small, flat and oval, or kidney-shaped, 

 and are employed medicinally by the Indian doctors. They 

 have an aromatic taste. They also yield an oil, and have been 

 sent to this country for crushing. 



Bay Tree, Poison. {See Anise Star.) 



Bay Tree, Sweet. {See Laurel.) 



Bdellium. — This Bible name has in modern times been 

 applied to the resin produ.ced by two distinct African plants. 

 First, Balsamodendrmii africamim (for which see Myrrh) The 

 second is Ceradia fiirmta, a genus of the Composite family 

 (Composite), native of the island of Schibon on the West Coast 

 of Africa. It consists of several erect, gouty, forked stems, about 

 a foot in height, bearing a few simple leaves on the top, and a 

 few flowers similar to the common groundsel. It was first 

 noticed by guano -collectors about forty years ago, and living 



