432 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



even open paper in which they are contained. These hairs 

 are scraped off, mixed with syrup or honey, and used as a 

 vermifuge. 



Scimitar Pods {Entada scandens). A strong climbing 

 shrub, attaining a great height, native of tropical India 

 and America. It is remarkable for its large hard-wooded 

 flat pods, which are from 4 to 6 or even 8 feet in length, 

 and being curved, resemble a sword or scimitar. They 

 contain round, hard, convex seeds, about 2 inches in diameter, 

 which are formed into snuff-boxes and toys. The seeds are 

 sometimes sold in London under the name of Indian filberts, 

 but are not eatable ; they are often carried by the gulph 

 stream to the Western shores of Scotland. 



This family is strongly represented in Australia, not only 

 by the Tree Acacia, but also by numerous small shrubs which 

 form the scrub vegetation of the country. Several of them 

 are highly poisonous, especially Gastrolohium trilohum, G. ob- 

 tusum, and G. spinosum, natives of Western Australia, where, 

 some years ago, before the cause was discovered, they proved 

 fatal to sheep and cattle, and are known as the poison plants. 

 Their pretty blue and yellow flowers led them to become 

 objects of interest in the greenhouses of this country, and for 

 the first half of the present century they formed an important 

 part of the fine Australian collection at Kew. 



Wistaria sinensis. A strong growing woody shrub, trailing 

 and twining to a great length or height, forming a stem 1 foot 

 in diameter. It is a native of China and Japan, and was in- 

 troduced in 1818. On account of its rapid growth and 

 beautiful bunches of light-blue flowers, which are produced 

 in great profusion, it has become a great favourite for cover- 

 ing walls, trellis work, and dwelling-houses. W. frutescens 

 is a similar species, native of North America, but is not so 

 handsome. 



