CAROB OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 93 



pared principally from Cardamoms, Cardamoms are also 

 furnished by species of Amomnm. 



Oardoon {Gynara Gardunculus), a strong rooted perennial 

 herb of the Composite family (Compositae), having long, lan- 

 ceolate^ pinnatifid, smooth, or spiny, radical leaves, from which 

 rise flower-stems 3 feet high, bearing heads of flowers, formed 

 of imbricate scales like the artichoke, but smaller, the centre 

 consisting of pretty blue florets. It is a native of the countries 

 bordering on the Mediterranean, and has been known in this 

 country for 200 years; it is largely cultivated, especially in 

 France, for its leaves, which are blanched, the part used being the 

 thick midrib, which forms an excellent vegetable when properly 

 cooked. Its flowers are said to curdle milk. It has become 

 naturalised and occupies large tracts in the Argentine Eepublic, 

 a pest to cultivation. 



Caricature Plant {Gfra'ptojpliyllum liortense), a shrub of the 

 Acanthus family (Acanthacese), native of India. Its leaves 

 are smooth, elliptical, lanceolate, 3 to 4 inches in length, and 

 remarkable for their variegation. They are yellow in colour, 

 and present many forms on the same leaf, which are compared 

 to caricatures of the human face. 



Carnauba Palm. (See Wax Palm.) 



Carnation. (See Clove.) 



Carob Tree, also called Locust Tree and St. John's Bread 

 (Ceratooiia Siligiia), a small much-branched tree of the Bean 

 family (Leguminos^), attaining the height of from 20 to 30 

 feet, with shiaing, smooth, winged leaves. It is a native of 

 countries bordering the Mediterranean, extending to Syria and 

 Western Asia. The flowers are small, yellow, and have a 

 fetid odour. Its fruit (a pod), 6 to 8 inches in length, is 

 similar to a broad bean pod, but of a firmer texture. It con- 

 tains many pea-like seeds embedded in an agreeably flavoured 

 mucilaginous saccharine pulp. In all countries where the trees 

 grow the pods are used for feeding cattle and swine, and are 

 imported into this country for those purposes, and form an 

 important ingredient in patent cattle foods. They are sold in 



