262 DICTIOKAEY OF POPULAH NAMES MANCHINEAL 



Seqicoia, in wMcli genus it is now placed. It is a native of 

 California, and for some time was thought only to grow in one 

 locality, called the "Mammoth Grove;" it has, however, been 

 found in several other mountain ranges, but not equal in size to 

 those first discovered. Its immense size was a few yeais ago well 

 known to visitors to the Crystal Palace by a portion of the 

 thick bark of one of the trees being set up in the position it occu- 

 pied when growing, showing its natural dimensions, the height 

 of the tree felled being 327 feet, with a diameter of 30 feet 

 at the ground. This bark was destroyed by a fire which occurred 

 at the Palace some years since. The plant has been introduced, 

 and grows freely in this country, forming as yet a very orna- 

 mental tree, some having attained already the height of 30 feet 

 or more. 



MancMneal Tree {Hip^pomane Mancmella), a tree of the 

 Spurgewort family (Euphorbiace<Ee). This, like the Upas tree of 

 the East, is the celebrated poison tree of tropical America ; it 

 grows to the height of from 40 to 50 feet, and is generally found 

 near the sea-shore. The leaves are simple, of an elliptical form, 

 and shining, 3 to 4 inches in length. The fruit is of a yellowish- 

 green colour, and very tempting to the eye, but when bitten it 

 is found to be very acrid. Many wonderful stories aie told of 

 the virulent nature of this tree, even that it causes ill effects to 

 persons lying under its shade ; its milky juice is highly acrid 

 and blistering to the skin, and has caused blindness by the 

 hands coming in contact with the eyes after the plant has been 

 handled. 



Mandiocca. {See Cassava.) 



Mandrake {Mandragofa officinancm), a low perennial herb 

 of the Nightshade family (Solanace^), native of the South and 

 East of Europe and Western Asia ; it has large tap roots, from 

 which spring a number of simple lance-shaped leaves, the llowers 

 being produced amongst them close to the stem, and succeeded 

 by the fruit, which lies on the ground round the centre of the 

 plant; it is like the potato apple, but larger. This plant is of 

 ancient renown, for virtues superstitiously founded on the 



