PARSNIP OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 313 



or breadth, according to circumstances. The sheet was then 

 dried and cut into the required sizes for use. 



Paraguay Tea, or Yerba (Ilex ;paTaguayensis), a small ever- 

 green tree of the HoUy family (Aquifoliacese), with plain or 

 toothed leaves ; native of South America, in the countries of the 

 Parana and Paraguay rivers. The leaves are either dried or 

 scorched, and pounded, and become the tea, which forms an 

 important article of trade in South America, taking the place 

 of Chinese tea as used in other countries. It is infused in the 

 same manner, but is drunk in a different way, being sucked 

 through a tube called a bombilla ; it is very refreshing after 

 fatigue. Mat^ is the name of a small gourd, which forms 

 the drinking cup. The quantity of this tea consumed in South 

 America is calculated to be at least 8,000,000 lbs. per annum. 

 Although such is the case, it has not yet met with patronage 

 in this country. 



Pareira Brava, a name given by druggists to the roots of 

 Cissam;pelos Pareira, a climber of the Moonseed family (Menis- 

 permace^), native of the East and West Indies and Central 

 America. It is in high repute, medicinally, in urinary diseases. 

 It is also known as Portuguese Wild Ohve. Though the name 

 of Pareira Brava is commonly given to the above-named plant, 

 it is more properly applied to Chondodendron tomentosum, an 

 allied species. Ahuta nifesce^is, another allied plant, furnishes 

 White Pareira Brava. 



Parsley (Petroselinum sativum), a biennial of the Carrot 

 family (Umbelliferse), native of Sardinia, and has become wild 

 in many parts of England. It is cultivated in all gardens for 

 the sake of its finely-cut leaves, which are in common use in 

 flavouring culinary dishes and for garnishing. Much supersti- 

 tion was early attached to the Parsley, and even at the present 

 day in some parts of England it is considered unlucky to trans- 

 plant Parsley. 



Parsnip (Pastinaca sativd), a biennial of the Carrot family 

 (Umbelliferse), growing in waste places, similar to the wild 

 carrot in this country, and, like it, uneatable in its wild state, 



