BED 01^ ECOKOMIC PLANTS. 347 



embedded in pulp, forming a compound fruit. There are two 

 kinds, the red and the white, and by cultivation fine varieties 

 have been obtained. They are well known as dessert fruits, 

 and large quantities are used for jams, jellies, and cooling 

 drinks, also for raspberry vinegar, wine, and brandy. In 18*73 

 one firm alone in London used 300 tons for these purposes. 



Rasp Palm {Iriartea exorrhiza), a wing-leaved palm, native 

 of Northern Brazil and Central America. It is remarkable 

 inasmuch as its stem is supported on aerial roots, which diverge 

 from the base in a slanting direction like props, and are of 

 sufficient height for a man to walk beneath them. These sup- 

 porting roots are 6 to 8 inches in circumference, covered with 

 hard tubercles, and are used by the natives as graters. A fine 

 example of this palm, with aerial roots 2 feet in length, was a 

 few years ago to be seen in the Palm-house at Kew. 



Rata, a name given by the natives of New Zealand to 

 Metrosideros rohista, a tree of the Mja^tle family (Myrtacese), 

 remarkable for its mode of growth. Its nature is epiphytal ; it 

 begins by several young stems ascending some forest trees, like 

 ivy ; they thicken and involve the whole of the trunk of the 

 tree to its summit, the tree ultimately dies and entirely disappears. 

 The Eata stems becoming united, form a hollow trunk, 8 to 10 

 feet in circumference and 30 to 40 feet high, the lower part 

 gradually filling up and becoming solid timber, which is almost 

 like rosewood. The natives make their war-clubs, paddles, and 

 other articles of it. 



Rattan Oane. (See Cane.) 



Ray Grass (generally pronounced Eyo-Grass), species of 

 the genus Zolium, L, ^erenne and L, italimm ; being highly 

 valued as pasture and hay grasses, i. temuUntum is the 

 poisonous Darnel (which see). 



Red Snow*, a name for Protococeus nivalis^ a genus of the 

 Conferva family (Confervas). This singular substance consists 

 of microscopic globules covering large tracts of snow in the 

 Arctic and Alpine regions, with patches of a bright red colour, 

 which, after pressure with the foot or sledge assumes the 



