THE INDIAN PLUM FAMILY. 



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' The genus Epimedium consists of pretty, low herbaceous 

 plants, 6 to 12 inches high, natives of Europe, Northern 

 Asia, and Japan. 



Several species are cultivated in botanic gardens. E. alpi- 

 nurn, called Barrenwort, is considered a native of this country, 

 but it is rare. 



The Indian Plum Family. 



(Flacourtiace^.) 



Shrubs or small trees, sometimes spiny, with alternate, 

 entire, or toothed leaves. Flowers small, axillary, solitary, 

 or in small umbels, some unisexual. Petals 4 to 5 or more, 

 or absent. Stamens 6 to 10, or very numerous. Fruit cap- 

 sular, 1 -celled, indehiscent or valved, sometimes fleshy and 

 pulpy. Seeds numerous. 



Above 80 species represent this family, all being widely 

 distributed throughout the tropics, but sparingly represented 

 in South Africa and New Zealand. 



Indian Plum (Flacourtia cataphracta, and F. Ramontchi). 

 Small trees, natives of Madagascar and India. The fruit of 

 the latter is about the size of a plum, of a sharp but sweetish 

 taste. F. sepiaria, a stiff spiny bush, is in common use in 

 India for forming hedges. 



Arnatto (Bixa Orelland). A small tree, originally native 

 of South America, but now widely dispersed throughout the 

 tropical regions. It has round cordate leaves, similar to, but 

 larger than, those of the lime tree. The fruit consists of a flat 

 roundish pod, which, when ripe, is covered with bristles of a 

 reddish brown colour, and contains numerous seeds enclosed 

 in an orange-red waxy pulp, which hardens when dry, and is 

 the dye called Arnatto. It is separated from the seeds by 

 steeping them in water, after which it is dried and made into 

 rolls and cakes. It forms a considerable article of commerce, 

 and the Indians of Guiana and other parts of tropical America 

 paint their bodies with it. In this country it is used by 

 silk-dyers and varnish -^makers, also for colouring cheese, 

 chocolate, and adulterated milk. 



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