'the taqua plant. 
37 
ducts; one soluble in water, and containing no nitrogen ; 
the other insoluble and nitrogenous. 
Finally, the resin evaporated to dryness with nitric acid 
produced a black mass, which, treated by alcohol, left a resi- 
due insoluble in water and soluble in alcohol, which the 
author compared with ulmic acid. This matter contained 
65.47 of carbon and 5.43 of hydrogen. Ibid. 
ART. XI, — THE VEGETABLE IVORY, OR TAQUA PLANT. 
( Phytelephas macrocarpa. Willdenow.) 
By Mr. Smith. 
This tree, which resembles a palm, grows in the hot low 
valleys of the Peruvian Andes. The fruit at first contains 
an insipid and limpid fluid, with which travellers quench 
their thirst ; afterwards the liquid becomes milky and sweet, 
but increases in consistence till it becomes solid as ivory. 
The taste varies ; if the fruit be cut off while soft, and filled 
with fluid, the liquid becomes sour if kept long. Of the 
nuts the inhabitants form handles for knives, spindles, and 
other ornaments, which are whiter than real ivory, the color 
and hardness of which they retain, provided they be not 
kept too long under water ; but even then, when dried, they 
again become white and hard. 
The Indians cover their cottages with the largest leaves, 
and the English manufacture all kinds of fancy articles with 
the nut, which in color supersedes the elephant ivory. 
Pharm. Journ. and Trans. 
VOL. ix. — no. i. 4 
