SACRED OF ECOlsOMTC PLANTS. 359 



tlie trees in lengths the size wanted, and pulling the hark over 

 the wood, which is then cut away, leaving a piece of wood at 

 one end to form the bottom, a natural sack is at once obtained. 



Sacred Bamboo, a name in China for Nandina domestiea, an 

 erect single-stemmed shrub, like a small tree, of the Barberry 

 family (BerberidaceoB), bearing tufts of compound leaves on its 

 apex, terminated with panicles of flowers, followed by red berries, 

 like those of the holly. It is a native of China, and at the 

 season in the Chinese religion answering to our Christmas, it is 

 used for decorating houses and altars in temples, and hence the 

 name of Sacred Bamboo. 



Sacred Bean, a name in India for Nelumlmm speciosum, a 

 remarkable aquatic of the "Water Lily family (ITymphgeaceas), 

 widely dispersed througliout the tropical and sub-tropical regions 

 of both Old and N*ew World, growing in shallow lakes and 

 rivers. Its stem is a rhizome about the thickness of the finger, 

 extending to a considerable length in the mud, from which arise 

 stalks about 3 feet high, each bearing a circular leaf about 1 

 foot in diameter attached to the stalk by its centre. The 

 flower-stalk rises to about the same height, bearing a large 

 flower, similar to that of a double poppy. It varies in the 

 colour of its flowers. In the East it is generally of a pink or 

 rose colour, and in the West Indies and Southern United States 

 yellow and white, and blue flowers are said to have been seen in 

 the interior of Australia. In the centre of the flower is a thick, 

 spongy, conical body, flat on the top, in which the seeds, or pro- 

 perly the fruits, are embedded. They consist of oblong nuts, 

 about twice the size of peas, and when perfect so hard that it 

 requires a hammer to break them. It is caUed the Pythagorean 

 or Egyptian Bean, and is supposed to be one of the plants called 

 the Egyptian Lotus (which see). Although not now found in 

 the Nile, it nevertheless appears at one time to have been 

 common there, and was held sacred by the worshippers of Isis, 

 as is evident by the sculptures and representation of the flower 

 found in the ruins of the ancient temples. It is noticed by 

 Herodotus (413 B.C.), who says — "Another lily grows in the 



