April l, 1903.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 665 
about forty peisous ; the most productive, however, 
is the century plant, which furnishes the diink (pulque) 
fiber, food, fiiel, etc. This enormous productive power 
of certain plants is the reason why the Indians 
. cultivate but a small space of land. 
In the following table Emil Kiedel gives an index 
of some of the most useful and interesting plants 
arranged alphabetically, according to their Mexican 
names, with English equivalent, scientific name, classi- 
fication and some curious items : 
Aoelga, beet, Betta vulgaris cycla. Salaolaceas. 
Ahuacate, Persea gratissima, Liurineas : In four 
varieties in warm and temperate zones ; nutritious 
fruit ; principal harvest, April-Juoe ; wood for limber. 
Ahuehuete or Sabino, Mexican cypress, Taxodium 
distichnm, Coniferaa : Grows to gigantic size, as in 
Chapultepec, Popotla, Texcoco, Atlixco and Oaxaca 
(Santa Maria del Tule). The latter, admired and des- 
cribed by Humboldt, has a circumference of 170 feet 
and a height of 124 feet. These trees are very often 
covered with Spanish moss or with orchids. 
Ajonjoli, beneseed, Seasamum orieutale, Sesameas 
Oil plant, introduced from Africa. 
Alacle or hulnar, Malva scoparia, Malvaceas : 
Textile and medicinal plant, 
Algeria, oily grain (Sesameas) : Seeds used by the 
Indians for candy and oil. 
Alfalfa, Medicago sativa, Leguminosas. 
Algodon, cotton, Gossypium herbacenm and arbo- 
reum, Malvacsas : A native plant, cultivated in herbs 
and trees in many varieties , especially in the northern 
states of Coahuila, Dnrango, Chihuahua, but also in 
"Vera Ccuz, Colima, Yucatan, etc. ; generally sowed 
from March to June, harvested from September to 
December. 
Alpiste, canary seed, Phalaris canariensis, Gra- 
mineas. , , , , 
Amate, shady tree of the hot zone, whose green 
fruit is eaten by the Indians. 
Anil (the Aztec "Xiuhquilipitzahuac"), indigo, Indigo- 
fera tinctoria, etc., Lieguminosas : A native dye 
plant of hot zone for blue color, especially in Chia- 
pas, Oaxaca, Colima ; sowed from December to iMay ; 
article of export declining in importance. 
Anis anise, Pimpinela anisum, Urabellifera'J ; intro- 
duced from Egypt, article of export. 
Anacahuite, Cordia Boissieri, Borragineas ; Native 
medicinal plant. 
Anona, custard apple, Anona veticulata and glabra, 
Anonaceas. 
Arbol de fierro, iron wood, Robinia : Cabinet wood. 
Arbol de hule, caoutchouc tree, Castilloa elastioa : 
Native tree of hot zone. 
Arbol rie las nianitas or Macpalxochitl, claw tree, 
Cheirstemon platanoides, Bombaceas ; Venerated tree 
of the Aztecs, grows in Valley of Toluca and Oaxaca ; 
is medicinal, 
Arbol del Peru, pepper tree, Schinus molle, Terbin 
taceaa : Introduoed from Peru ; famishes gum, 
medicine, etc. 
Arrayan, myrtle, Myrtus arrayan, Mirtaceas : 
Famishes fruit and medicine. 
Arroz, rice, Oryza sativa, Gramineas : Introduced 
by conquerors, cultivated in warm zone, best in 
Morelos ; sown in March and April ; harvested in 
September and October. 
Arvejon or Alverjon, vetch, Pisum sativum, Legu- 
minosas, 
Biznaga, Mammillaria manimama and parvimama, 
etc. : Cactus used for preserves. 
Cacahuate or Mani, peanut, Arachis hypogae, Legu- 
minosas ; Native plant, planted in March and April, 
harvested in October and November; beans eaten 
roasted. 
Cacaloxochitl, " raven flower," Plumiera alba and 
rubra, Apocinaceas : Beautiful Mexican flower of the 
hot zone ; used for medicine and preserves. 
Cacao (from the Aztec "cacahuatl") cocoa, Theo- 
bioma cacao, Buttueriaceas : Native tree in hot zone 
of sevea varieties, io Tabasco, Chiapas and Colima ; 
bears fruit after five year for twenty to thirty-fivo 
years ; harvested from November to .January ; important 
article of export. The Aztecs used the beans as 
money. 
Cacomite or Ocelcxochitl, Tigridia pavonia, Irideas : 
Kntrifcions root, food for the Indians, toasted tastes 
somewhat like the chestnut. 
Cafe, coffee, Coffca nr .bica, Rnbiaceas : Introduced 
from Africa at the end of the eighteenth century ; grows 
in elevated places of hot zone, in Vera Cruz (famous 
Codoba,) Michoacan (famous Urnapam) Colima, Chia- 
pas, Guerrero, OaXKc:i, etc., generally cultivated under 
the shade. Tree begins to bear fruit after the second 
year for fifteen to over twenty years. The "Mocha" 
is select fruit of the same trees. Two harvests yearly, 
first and beat in June and July, second in December 
and January. 
Calabaza, pumpkins or gourds, Oucurbita melopeo, 
Cucurbitaceas : In many varieties, flowers and fruit 
very popular food ; the calabaza trompeta, guaje or 
acocoCe, Lagentaria vulgaris, is used as instrument for 
the extraction of pulque- 
Camote, sweet pot;i,to, Batatas edulis, Convolvul- 
aceas : A native plant growing in many varieties 
in temperate zone, with white, yellow or red roots ; 
planted from March to May, harvested from August 
to October; finest and largest are the yellowish 
roots of Queretaro ; in Puebia and Morelia the white 
root is used to prepare a very fine preserve. 
Caoba, mahogany, Switenia mahogoni, Cedrelaceas 
Cabinet wood, exported. 
Cana de azncar, Saccarum officinarnm, Gramineas : 
Cultivated in three varieties since middle of sixteenth 
century in hot and temperate zones. The molasses 
furnishes alcohol (refino) and brandy (aguardiente). 
Canafistnla, purging cassia, Cassia fistaloides, Legu- 
minosas : Medicinal. 
Oapulin, American cherry, Cerasus capollin, Rosa- 
ceas : Native fruit tree in temperate and cold zones, 
cabinet wood. 
Cardo, garden artichoke, Dipsaina fullonum, Dipaa" 
ceas. 
Cardo santo, holy thistle Circium mexicannm, 
Sinanterias : Medicinal. 
Cirrizo (cana veral), reed grass, Arundo donnas, 
Gramineas. 
Cascalote, Coesalpima coriaria, Leguminosas : Medi- 
cinal. 
Casaahuatp, Ippmea arborescens. etc., Convolvnlaceag. 
Cedro, cedar, Cedrela odorata, Meliacea,i : Medicinal 
glim and timber. 
Cedro bianco, white cedar, Cupressus Lindley — CedrO 
de la Sierra, mountain cedar, Chamoeccy pares thurifera: 
Timber. 
Ceiba or Pochote, silk cotton, Eriodeudron anfractn- 
osum, Bombaceas ; Native tree of the h;t zone, medi- 
cinal. 
Cevada, barley, Hordeum vulgare, Giamineas: In- 
troduoed by the conquerors, next to Indian corn and 
wheat, the moat important grain, cultivattd in temper- 
ate and cool zones, generally sowed November to 
January : harvest in spring ; produces as much as 
twenty-four times. j 
Chavacano, apricot, Armeniaca vulgaris, Rosaceag. 
Chayote, Sechium edule, Cucurbitaceas : Several 
varieties, a vine which produces a green or white 
vegetable, the green kind is thorny and boiled tastes 
like calabash. 
Chia, lime-leaved sage, Salvia cbian, Labiadas 
Mexican condiment for drinks, etc. 
Chicozapote or z ipotillc, Zvpota archas, Sapoteaa : 
Fruit tree of hot zone. 
Chile, Cayenne or red pepper. Capsicum ancnra, 
Solanaceas : Principal condiment of the Me.";icans, iu 
many varieties, used fresh and dried. 
Chirimoyo, Anoua chirituolia, Anonaceas ; Fruit 
tree of hot zone. 
Cidra, citron, Citrns medica cedra, AoranciEkceas; 
Introduced from Asia, 
