THE SOAP BERRY FAMILY. 



473 



yields a hard and heavy timber, and produces an egg-shaped 

 fruit that possesses an agreeable flavour. 



Lac (ScJileichera trijugd). A large tree, common through-' 

 out India, Ceylon, and Burmah. A coccus insect frequents 

 this tree, and produces what is called Stick Lac, which is 

 collected from the young branches, and forms part of the 

 Ceylon Lac dye of commerce. 



Alectryon excelsum. A large tree, native of New Zealand, 

 having useful hard-wooded timber. 



Cupania pendula. A lofty tree, having a stem of nearly 

 2 feet in diameter, native of Queensland. The wood is 

 marked with mahogany-like patches ; it takes a high polish, 

 and is called the Tulip Wood of that colony. 



Paullinia sorhilis. A strong-growing creeper, native of 

 Brazil, chiefly in the regions of the Amazon. The ripe 

 seeds are pounded, made into a paste, and then formed into 

 rolls, which become dry and hard, resembling large black 

 sausages. Under the name of Guarana they form a consi- 

 derable article of trade, being carried into all parts of Brazil, 

 where they are used for making a beverage similar to tea, 

 and have been found to contain Theine, the principle of tea. 



Paullinia pinnata. A strong climber, with winged leaves 

 like the preceding. The whole of the plant is poisonous. 



The curious walking-sticks called " Supple Jacks," are 

 made from the slender climbing stems of Paullinia curas- 

 savica. 



Serjania lethalis. Also a climber similar to the preceding, 

 native of Brazil ; is supposed to be the plant from which a 

 species of Wasp collects honey that is highly poisonous. The 

 Indians use these poisons for their arrows, also for poison- 

 ing fish. 



The only hardy representative of the family \b KoBlreuteria 

 paniculata, a tree, native of China. A plant of this at Kew 

 attained the height of 20 feet, with a diameter of 8 inches. 

 It has spreading branches, with winged leaves, producing 

 erect panicles of showy yellow flowers. 



