19a 



"West Indian Islands. Some of the species yield good fibre from 

 the bark. (Malvacece.) 



88. Pachyrhizus tuberostts, Spreng. — The Yam Bean has white 



flowers and red seeds. The root is formed of several simple fibres, 

 several feet in length, bearing a succession of tubers. 



The root affords a plentiful supply of wholesome food. The 

 tubers may either be boiled plain, in which state they are a good 

 substitute for yams and other roots in common use ; or they may 

 be submitted to a process similar to arrow-root, and a starch ob- 

 tained. This starch is equal to arrow-root. Even the trash left 

 after obtaining the starch, and which in the preparation of arrow- 

 root is lost, may, when thoroughly dried, be formed into a palat- 

 able and wholesome flour. A very excellent flour may also be 

 obtained by slicing the tubers, drying them in the sun, and then 

 reducing to a powder. The ripe seeds are poisonous, but the pods 

 when young maybe eaten like French Beans. (Leguminosce ). 



89. Pandanus ttilis, Bory. — The Screw Pines are so-called from the 



way in which their pine-like leave? grow in spiral fashion. They 

 are nearly related to the Palms, and are remarkable for the way 

 in which roots are put out from the stem. The tender tip of a 

 root is protected in pushing through the soil by a cap, and this 

 root-cap is very large and evident in the Screw Pines. When 

 the roots reach the ground, they serve not only as feeders for the 

 plant, but they also help to support it. 



This species is a native of Madagascar, and is commonly planted 

 in Mauritius for the sake of its leaves, " which are employed for 

 the purpose ot package-bags for the transportation of coffee, sugar 

 and grain from one place to another, and for exportation. The 

 preparation of the leaves for working into matting is simple and 

 short. As soon as gathered, the spines on their edges and dorsal 

 nerve are stripped off, and the leaves divided into slips of the 

 breadth proper for the use they are required for." — (Hardwicke). 

 (Pandanece). 



90. Phytelephas microcarpa, Ruiz Sf Pavon. — The Vegetable Ivory 



of commerce is the hard white seed of this plant, which is a kind 

 of palm with a trunk more or less recumbent. The hard woody 

 fruit is as large as a man's head. The seeds when quite young, 

 contain a clear water used by travellers to quench their thirst, 

 afterwards this liquid becomes milky and sweet, and finally 

 changes into a substance as hard and as white as ivory. (Palmes.) 



91. Pterocaepus Draco, Linn. — This is the Dragon's Blood tree of the 



"West Indies. There are several plants known in different parts 

 of the world as Dragon's Blood, but this one is a native of 

 Jamaica, a tree about 30 feet high. The common name is de- 

 rived from the fact that when incisions are made in the bark, 

 drops of red sap ooze out which flow slowly down the bark and 

 gradually harden. 



J acquin states that formerly this red resin was imported from 

 Cartagena to Spain as " Sangre de Dragon." He also says that 



