MORA OF ECO]N"OMIC PLANTS. 2T5 



and even 20s. Its berries are said to be poisonous, instances of 

 deatb to children having occurred from eating them ; but this 

 appears to be owing more to the glutinous nature causing them 

 to adhere to the coats of the stomach than to any active prin- 

 ciple. 



Mocan ( Vismia Mocanera), an evergreen shrub with tea-like 

 leaves belonging to the Tea family (Ternstroemiaceae), native of 

 the Canaries. Some writers suppose its fruit to be the Mocan 

 of the Guanches, the original inhabitants of the Canaries and 

 Madeira, but long ago extinct. Its fruit, however, being a dry 

 capsule, leads us to doubt whether the Mocan was the plant 

 now known as Vismia, 



Model -wood, a name given in India to the hard light- 

 coloured wood of Adina {Nauclea cordifolia). 



Molle, a Peruvian name for ScMmis MolU (see Mastich). 



Monk's Hood. (See Aconite.) 



Monkey-bread. (See Baobab.) 



Monkey-pot. (See Sapucaia.) 



Monstera, the name of a genus of the Arum family 

 (Aroideee). 3L delidosa is an epiphytal climber, native of 

 Mexico. Its stems are about an inch in diameter, extending 

 to a great length, and furnished with large, cordate, lobed leaves, 

 perforated with holes. The fruit is about the size of a small 

 pine-apple, pulpy, of a pink colour and most delicious flavour. 

 It grows and fruits freely in the hothouses of this country. 



Moon-flower (Ipomoea lona-nox), a climbing annual of the 

 Bindweed family (Convolvulaceas), native of India. It has 

 large flowers, 5 to 6 inches in diameter, of a pure white, which, in 

 consequence of their habit of opening during the night, are very 

 conspicuous. The name Bona-nox means Good-night Plant, 

 in allusion to its nocturnal flowers. It is represented in this 

 country by the common Bindweed (Convolvulus \Calystegia\ 

 sepium), which cHmbs over bushes and hedges, its white flowers 

 being very conspicuous in the dark. 



Mora Tree (3fora excelsa), a large tree of the Bean family 

 (Leguminos^), with glossy winged leaves, attaining a height of 



