256 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



process of manufacture may be to Europeans, it is well 

 known to have been drunk by several eminent travellers, 

 one saying, " In my opinion the piwarrie is very agreeable 

 and wholesome, for I drank it in large quantities at the 

 different Indian settlements I visited." 



Castor oil or Palma Christi {Bicinus communis). Originally 

 supposed to be a native of India, but now widely spread over 

 the warm regions of the earth. In this country it makes a 

 handsome summer plant, having an erect stem from 4 to 5 feet 

 high, bearing large broad lobed leaves, the whole being of a 

 rusty dark appearance. In warmer countries, such as the 

 south of France, it becomes a soft- wooded tree. The bruised 

 seeds afford the well known castor-oil, the supply for this 

 country being derived principally from India. The leaves 

 have lately come into repute as food for a species of silkworm, 

 and in some parts of Germany it is grown for that purpose. 



Croton Oil {Croton Tiglium). A native of India. The 

 powerful oil used in medicine called " croton oil" is ex- 

 tracted from its seeds. 



Pinhoen Oil (Jatropha Curcas). A small tree attaining 

 the height of 20 feet, having soft spongy wood and entire or 

 lobed leaves. It is a native of tropical America, and is now 

 cultivated in all hot countries for its seeds, which yield an 

 oil analogous to that of castor-oil, but of a drastic nature ; 

 it is used for many purposes. The seeds are nutty and 

 pleasant to eat, but when eaten to excess produce serious 

 consequences ; a few years ago several children died at 

 Bristol through eating them. 



Stinging Bush (^Jatropha stimulans : sometimes called J. 

 horrida). A small straggling soft- wooded shrub with lobed 

 leaves, covered as weU as the younger parts of the wood with 

 stiff hairs like small needles, which sting fearfully and are 

 much dreaded by the natives ; it causes an intense burning 

 pain, with swelling, which is not confined to the part stung 

 but sometimes spread over the body. A plant at Kew 

 stung the writer on the wrist, and in a few minutes the 

 poison extended up the arm and the upper part of the body, 



