52 GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY 
Cola acuminata, or Coca Nut, is a native of Africa that belongs to the 
Sterculiaceae, a family with no local representatives. The cola tree 
is grown throughout the tropics for the stimulating cola nuts—a nut 
about the size and shape of a horse chestnut, and of a bitter flavor. 
The trade in this nut is immense. The natives claim that chewing it 
gives strength, stays hunger, allays thirst, and enables them to do 
an excessive amount of work. The nuts are used in the United States 
in medicinal preparations and in summer drinks. 
Coulteria tinctoria, is a tropical member of the Leguminosae, of value 
in dyeing. 
Crescentia Cujete, or CALABASH TREE, is a native of tropical America 
that belongs to the Bignoniaceae, the family to which our catalpa 
belongs. The fruit can be caused to grow in various shapes by skillful 
tying, and is used for water gourds and other household utensils. 
The tree is becoming increasingly important in the manufacture of 
tobacco pipes. 
Croton sylvatica, belongs to the Euphorbiaceae, the family to which 
our garden. snow-on-the-mountain, and flowering spurge belong. 
From this plant is secured a croton oil used as a substitute for the 
croton oil of India. 
Cryptostegia grandificra is a native of India that belongs to the Asclepi- 
adaceae, the family to which our common milkweed belongs. It 
is widely cultivated in warm countries for its ornamental, pinkish 
flowers. The juice, when exposed to the sun, produces caoutchouc, 
or India rubber. 
Cryptostegia madagascariensis is a related species from Madagascar. 
Cycas revoluta, or SAGO Pam, is a native of China and Japan that 
belongs to the Cycadaceae, other members of which are exhibited in 
the Fern House. The pith of the stem yields a variety of sago that is 
much esteemed in the many tropical countries in which the plant is 
now cultivated. 
Cymbopogon citratus (Andropogon citratus), or LEMON GRAss, is a 
oil-producing grass from the Old World. The oil from this and from 
several other species is known as citronella oil by druggists, or as oil 
of verbena by perfumers. It is used in mosquito deterrents and in 
perfume. 
Cyperus Papyrus, or EGYPTIAN PAPER REED, is perhaps the most use- 
ful member of the Sedge family. Under favorable conditions it attains 
a height of 10 feet. Slender stalks are woven into boxes and baskets. 
The ancients used bundles of the thicker stalks for making light boats. 
They used the fiber for cordage, sails, awnings, and matting. They 
boiled the pith and ate it as food. They dried the root and used it as 
fuel. Their most important use of it, however, was in the making 
of a paper known as papyrus. This was made by cutting the pith 
into strips, pressing the strips into sheets, and drying. Such paper 
was known at least 3600 B. C. 
Dalbergia Sissoo, or Stissoo TREE, a quick-growing native of India, 
belongs to the Leguminosae, the family to which clover and locust 
