127 



(Upholstery, but they are too short and too soft to be spun. The kapok 

 fetches a higher price than the simal. — (Malvaoece). 



Croton tiglium, Linn. (Croton Oil Shrub.) 



A small tree, 15 to 20 feet high, met with under cultivation through- 

 out the greater part of India ; probably indigenous or only naturalized 

 in eastern Bengal and Assam and southward to Malacca, Burma and 

 Ceylon. 



The nuts yield an oil which is orange yellow or sherry-coloured, of 

 the consistency of coc nut-oil, has a slight odour resembling that of 

 Jalap, and an acrid flavour. This is a valuable medicinal oil, which is 

 used as a drastic purgative especially, when it is desired to act speedily 

 and powerfully, and when only a small volume of medicine can be ad- 

 ministered, as in cases of obstinate constipation, in dropsy, in apoplexy, 

 in paralysis, and in cases when the patient cannot or will not swallow, 

 when the oil may be dropped on the tongue. As prepared in India, 

 it is frequently so much adulterated, that it finds no sale in Europe. 

 The nuts are exported chiefly from Bombay and Cochin (often being 

 also Chinese re-exports), and the oil is expressed in England (Euphor- 

 MacecB.) 



Durio zibethinus, Murr. (Durian.) 



The tree producing the celebrated Durian fruit of the Indian Archi- 

 pelago, is the only species of this genius of Sterculiacsce. It forms a 

 large forest tree attaining sixty or eighty feet in height, with some- 

 what the general appearance of an elm. The leaves are densely co- 

 vered beneath with minute scales, which give them a silvery red ap- 

 pearance. The flowers are yellowish green, produced in little clusters 

 upon the trunk or main branches. The fruit is either globular or oval, 

 and measures as much as 10 inches in length ; it has a thick, hard 

 rind, entirely covered with very strong, sharp prickles, and is divided 

 into five cells, each of which contains from one to four seeds rather 

 larger than pigeons' eggs, and completely enveloped in a firm luscious- 

 looking cream coloured pulp, which is the eatable portion of the fruit. 



This tree is very commonly cultivated throughout the Malayan 

 Peninsula and Islands, where its fruit, during the period it is in season, 

 forms the greatest part of the food of the natives. Considerable di- 

 versity of opinion exists among epicures as to the relative merits of 

 several well known tropical fruits, including the durian, the mango- 

 steen, the cherimoyer, and the pineapple, any one of which is made to 

 occupy the foremost place, according to individual taste. The flavour 

 of the durian, however, is said to be perfectly unique ; and it is also 

 quite certain that no other fruit, either of tropical or temperate climes, 

 combines in itself such a delicious flavour with such an abominably offen- 

 sive odour, an odour commonly compared either with putrid animal matter 

 or with rotton onions. It might be supposed that a fruit possessing 

 such an odour could never become a favourite ; but it is said that when 

 once the repugnance has been overcome, the durian is sure to find 

 favour, and that Europeans invariably become fond of it. m 



Ficus religiosa, Linn. (The Peepul tree.) 

 A large glabrous, usually epiphytic tree, found wild in the sub- 

 Himalayan forests in Bengal and Central India. Extensively culti- 



