238 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR FAMES LACE 



It is also important for producing the substance called Lac, 

 wliicli is a gummy exudation caused by a small insect breed- 

 ing upon the young branches. It forms a small portion of the 

 Ceylon Lac of commerce. 



In Ceylon, a resin called Lac exudes from the stem and 

 branches of Gfoton lacclferwrij and in Mexico from G, Draco, 

 which is used as a varnish. 



Lace Bark {Lagetta Untearid), a small tree of the Spurge 

 Laurel family (Thymelaeaceae), native of Jamaica, growing on 

 limestone rocks, and insinuating its roots in the fissures. It 

 has broad, somewhat roundish leaves, and flowers like lily of 

 the valley, the fruit being a pulpy white berry. It is remark- 

 able for its bark, which separates into twenty or more layers, 

 becoming like lace, and was at one time used in Jamaica for 

 many domestic purposes, such as net-caps, bonnets, veils, rujffies, 

 etc. It is said that Charles II. had a cravat made of it. With 

 care it will bear washing. During the time of slavery, whips 

 and thongs were made of it. 



Lacquer, Japan. {See Varnish.) 



Ladanum, Gum, this is an exudation from the leaves of 

 several species of Gisttcs, a genus of the Eock Eose family 

 (Cistine^e) ; the special species are G, villosus, G. crcticuSj G. sal- 

 vifolius, and G. ladanifeonis, natives of the rocky countries of 

 Gilead and other parts of Palestine and the islands of the 

 Mediterranean. The gum is collected during the heat of the 

 day by drawing a bunch of leather thongs, or some loose woven 

 material to which the gum adheres, over the bushes. It also 

 adheres to the beards of goats biowsing amongst the bushes, 

 from which it is scraped off. Ladanum is supposed to be the 

 same as the Hebrew word " Lot," which in our Bible is trans- 

 lated '* Myrrh," so that some consider it to be the myrrh which 

 the Israelites carried into Egypt, but not the myrrh of Moses. 

 {See Myrrh.) Gum Ladanum was once held in high medicinal 

 repute, but is now chiefly used in perfumery. 



Lakao. (See Buckthorn.) 



Lancewood, Australian {Bachlwusia australis), a small 



