Economic plants : an index to economic products of the vegetable kingdom in Jamaica / compiled by William Fawcett.

Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Economic plants : an index to economic products of the vegetable kingdom in Jamaica / compiled by William Fawcett. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    is used in India for oil and sugar cane crushers, agricultural imple- ments, bows, spear and sword handles, and wheelwrights’ work. A embic foot weighs about 701bs.” (Watt.) ACHRAS SAPOTA, Linn. Naseberry, Sapodilla. f V L' West Indies. Tree with dark green shining leaves and brown fruit* ( Sapotaccce.) Wood durable. Fruit, when ripe and fresh, is sweet, and of a good flavour. ACROCOMIA SCLEROCARPA, Mart. Groo-groo Palm. A native of the W. Indies, and tropieul S. America. A palm, 30 to 45 feet high, prickly stem ; leaves pinnate; spathe covered with black prickles; fruit yellow, fleshy, 1^ inch diem. (Palma\) Yields a fibre “ of remarkable softness and fineness.” (Cross.) See Bulletin No. 17. Fruit.—Oil user! for external application to ease pain. ADENANTHERA PAVONINA, Linn. Circassian Seeds. Native of India. A tree belonging to the Pea Family (Legumhnw) with compound leaves, and bright scarlet seeds. Leaves. A decoction is used for chronic rheumatism and gout; as an astringent and tonic in atonic diarrhoea and dysentery. Wood. The red heart-wood is used in India as a substitute for red sandal wood. It is hard, closer grained, durable and strong, and is used for house-building and cabinet-making. Powdered and mixed with water, it relieves prickly heat, and head- aches. . * Seeds. Powdered, and rubbed with water, applied for boils, prickly heat, also for headaches. Powdered and beaten up with borax, forms a good cement. As ornaments for necklaces, &c., and also as weights. ADRUE. See Cyperus articulatus. AGAVE MORRISII, Bak. Coratoe, May Pole. Native of Jamaica. An agave with green leaves, with prickles, and orange-coloured flowers. (Amaryllidm.) Leaves yield a fibre, which is not of much value, as it is slightly curled. The juice is diuretic; forms a soapy lather with salt water. “ Leaf roasted—cataplasms—maturating . . . Juice, boiled to a thick consistence, spread on leather, as a plaster, to be used in gout. (Dancer.) Pole—section, used as razor strop.