NETILE OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 285 



The fruits are oblong and drupe-like. In A. grandijlora, also 

 known as the ITatal Plum, the fruit is larger; it makes an 

 excellent preserve. 



Natchnee, the Indian name for Eleusine coracana, an annual 

 decumbent finger-grass, cultivated in some parts of India, Egypt, 

 and Abyssinia as a corn-food. It is largely used in India. In 

 Abyssinia it is called Tocussa. 



Necklace Tree. {See Bead Tree.) 

 Nectarine. {See Peach.) 



Neem, or Nim {Meha Azedirach), {See Bead Tree.) 

 Negro Pepper. {See Guinea Pepper.) 

 Nelumbium. {See Sacred Bean.) 



Neroli, a name in France for a pomatum made of grease 

 impregnated with orange flowers. The name is also applied to 

 an oil obtained from certain kinds of oranges. 



Nettle, Common {Urtica dioica), a perennial herb of the 

 family Urticacese, attaining a height of 2 to 5 feet ; although 

 generally despised on account of its stinging nature, its stem is, 

 however, known to possess an excellent fibre, which is used in 

 many parts of Europe for making fishing-lines, cloth, etc. Of 

 late years it has become extensively cultivated in Germany, and 

 by dressing, the fibre is made to become as fine as silk. The 

 young shoots of the Fettle are eaten as a wholesome vegetable. 

 U. canncibina of N'orth America yields a good fibre known as 

 Kentucky Hemp. 



Nettle Tree {Celtis australis), a tree of the Elm family 

 (Ulmace^), 30, 40, or more feet high, native of Southern 

 Europe and Mediterranean coast of Forth Afiica. In some 

 parts of France and Germany it is planted as an ornamental 

 tree ; its wood is hard, and is used for furniture-making. As a 

 genus it differs from Ulomis by having a small black berry, 

 which is delicious and wholesome, and is eaten in some parts. 

 It is believed by some to be the Lotos of the ancients {see 

 Lotos). In Greece it is called Honeyberry. There are several 

 other species, natives of Forth America, such as the Hackberry 

 and Sugarberry {Celtis crassifoUa), a fine species forming large 



