62 GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY 
in the arts. The roots is pungent, with the flavor of horse radish, 
and is sometimes eaten as a condiment. 
Morinda citrifolia, or INDIAN MULBERRY, belongs to the Rubiaceae, 
the family to which coffee belongs. The morinda is a small tree, a 
native of India and Malaya. The flowers contain a red coloring 
principle; the roots a yellow one. The fruits are fleshy and of a yel- 
low color. 
Muehlenbeckia platyclada (Coccoloba platyclada), or RiBBON-BusH, 
a native of the Solomon Isles, belongs to the Polygonaceae, the family 
to which buckwheat belongs. The shrub is extensively planted for 
its showy fruit, and its unusual leaf structure. 
Nandina domestica, a native of China and Japan, belongs to the Ber- 
beridaceae, the family to which the barberry belongs. This pretty 
shrub is much planted in temple gardens and is grown in practically 
every Japanese garden. 
Myrtus communis, or MyrtLeE, is also a member of the Myrtaceae. 
This is the classic myrtle, a native of southern Europe. Wreaths of 
myrtle were worn in ancient times by magistrates and victors. The 
wood is hard. Both green and dried fruits are used as condiments. 
The leaves are astringent and yield a volatile oil used as a stimulant 
by the ancients. The berries also are used medicinally in Greece 
and India. The plant has value in perfume making. The bark 
is used in tanning leather. The twigs are used in certain orthodox 
Jewish services, and the Conservatory frequently receives requests 
from synagogues for unbranched twigs with the leaves arranged 3 in 
a whorl. Large specimens are kept outdoors in the summer and in 
the Bay House in the winter. 
Nephelium Longana, or LONGAN, belongs to the Sapindaceae, the fam- 
ily to which the litchi belongs. The longan is a native of India, now 
grown in Florida and California. The fruit resembles the fruit of 
the litchi, but is of smaller size and inferior flavor. Quantities of the 
fruit are sold in China each year. In this country the longan is valued 
as a possible stock on which to graft the litchi. 
Nerium Oleander, or OLEANDER, belongs to the Apocynaceae, or Dog- 
bane family. The oleander is a native of the Orient, mentioned in 
Biblical literature. It is hardy outdoors in the South; but is grown 
as a houseplant in the northern part of the country. It is a poisonous 
plant,—people have died from eating the flowers and cattle have been 
Even water in which the plant stands is 
killed by eating the foliage. 
Large specimens of oleanders are 
poisonous, if taken internally. 
kept outdoors during the summer and in the Bay House during the 
winter. 
Olea europaea, or OLIVE, is a member of the Oleaceae, a family to which 
our native ash belongs. The olive is probably a native of Asia Minor, 
but has been cultivated since remote times in many warm 
countries. It is grown commercially in California, Florida, and 
Arizona. Both the ripe and the green fruit are pickled. Dried olives 
are much used in some countries. Oil pressed from the ripe fruit is 
