384 DICTIOJ^ARY OF POPULAR NAMES SOAP 



tute for soap. Its frequent use is, however, considered to 

 deteriorate fabrics washed with it. The hard seeds take a fine 

 poHsh, and are used for making rosaries and necklaces, and at 

 one time were imported for making buttons. In India the same 

 use is made of the seeds of S. trifoUatus and K Rarax, now 

 known as Dittelasvia Earah A medicinal oil is extracted from 

 the former. Erioglossmn edule (S. ruliginosd) is a tall tree of the 

 Pegu forests, having a girth of 3 to 4 feet. Its wood is white. 

 S. escidentus is a native of Brazil, attaining a height of 30 to 40 feet. 

 Its fruit is produced in bunches like grapes ; the rind is hard, but 

 between it and the seed is a mucilaginous pulp which is eaten. 



Soap Bulb {Chloragalmn pomeridiamtJii), a large bulb of the 

 Lily section of the family Liliace^e, native of California. It is 

 used as a substitute for soap, its mucilage producing a lather in 

 water ; but it contains neither alkali nor oil. 



Soap Pods. — In China the pods of several species of Csesal- 

 piniese, and in India the pods of Acaeia concinnaj are of a sapo- 

 naceous nature, and are used as a substitute for soap. 



Soap -root {Gypsophylla Struthmm), a strong-rooted, many- 

 stemmed perennial of the Pink family (Caryophyllacea3), native 

 of Spain, spreading a foot or more in height. Its root lathers 

 water, and is used as a substitute for soap. 



Soapwort (Scvponaria ojzcinahs), a strong-growing peren- 

 nial of the Pink family (Caryophyllaceas) ; it is common in 

 gardens. It is said to be a native of Britain, but if so it is very 

 rare. The stems upon being put in water form a lather like soap, 

 hence its name. 



Soldier's Herb. (See Matico.) 



Solomon's Seal {Polygonatuin muUiflorwn), a perennial herb 

 of the Lily family (Liliacese), a plant found wild in many parts 

 of England, and frequently cultivated in gardens. Its creeping 

 roots or rhizomes are in great repute, as they quickly remove 

 bruises and discolorations of the flesh resulting from blows. 



Sophee, a name in the mountain regions of India for 

 Myrica integrifoha, a shrub of the Candleberry family (Myri- 

 caceae). Its fruit is eaten by the natives. 



