444 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR KAMES WRACK 



of Britain, and A. pontica, of Germany, Eastern Europe, and 

 Western Asia. They belong to the Composite family (Coni- 

 positee), and are all hardy perennials, having the same habit and 

 properties, being aromatic, intensely bitter, and in great repute 

 as a vermifuge, hence the name Wormwood. They are used 

 to prevent moths and other insects from infesting clothes and 

 furniture. Wormwood is frequently mentioned in the Bible, and 

 is symbolical of bitter calamity. It is frequently used as a 

 substitute for hops (see Absinthe and Southernwood). 



Wrack. (See Eucus.) 



Wukkum. (See Sappan-wood.) 



Yacca, a name in the West Indies for Poclocarjjus Piirdicamcs 

 and P. conaceus, large trees of the Yew family (Taxaceie), native 

 of Jamaica. They afford excellent hard timber, used for many 

 purposes. 



Yaka, or Wayaka, a name given by the Eijians to Pachy- 

 tMzu$ angidatus, a plant of the Bean family (Leguminos?e), 

 having a climbing stem, and trifoliate, angular leaves, rising 

 from a thick root, or, more properly speaking, an underground 

 stem, 6 to 8 feet in length, and as thick as a man's thigh. In 

 the Eijis and New Caledonia it is in times of scarcity used as 

 an article of food. When cooked it is of a dirty white colour, 

 and has a slightly starchy, but insipid flavour, much infeiior to 

 that of the wild yam. The fibre of the climbing stems is very 

 tough, and the Eijians make their fishing-nets of it. The plant is 

 widely diffused, being found throughout tropical America, East 

 and West Indies, Mauritius, and islands of the South Seas. 



Yam (Pioscored sativa, D. amleata, and several other species), 

 climbing plants of the Yam family (DioscoreacCce), natives of 

 India and other warm countries of the East, where they are 

 extensively cultivated, and take the place of the potato of more 

 temperate climes. There are many varieties varying in size and 

 quality, but all contain more or less of a nutritive farina. The 

 Yam was early introduced into the West Indies, where it forms 

 a great part of the food of the negro population. Yams are 

 imported into this country, but not in any quantity. 



