t in the preparation of
food, and is chewed to promote digestion, and the native
physicians prescribe it as a carminative. It is the flavoring
ingredient of the preparation _Anisette de Bordeaux_. Its flavor
and odor are due to a volatile oil, which is extracted by
distillation, and sold as oil of anise, which is really a
different article.

242. ILLICIUM FLORIDANUM.--A native of the Southern States. The leaves
are said to be poisonous; hence, the plant is sometimes called
poison bag. The bark has been used as a substitute for cascarilla.

243. ILLICIUM RELIGIOSUM.--A Japanese species, which reaches the size
of a small tree, and is held sacred by the Japanese, who form
wreaths of it with which to decorate the tombs of their deceased
friends, and they also burn the fragrant bark as incense. Their
watchmen use the powdered bark for burning in graduated tubes, in
order to mark the time, as it consumes slowly and uniformly. The
leaves are said to possess poisonous properties.

244. INDIGOFERA TINCTORIA.--The indigo plant, a native of Asia, but
cultivated and naturalized in many countries. The use of indigo as
a dye is of great antiquity. Both Dioscorides and Pliny mention
it, and it is supposed to have been employed by the ancient
Egyptians. The indigo of commerce is prepared by throwing the
fresh cut plants into water, where they are steeped for twelve
hours, when the water is run off into a vessel and agitated in
order to promote the formation of the blue coloring matter, which
does not exist ready formed in the tissues of the plant, but is
the result of the oxidation of other substances contained in them.
The coloring matter then settles at the bottom; it is then boiled
to a certain consistency and afterwards spread out on cloth
frames, where it is further drained of water and pressed into
cubes or cakes for market.

245. IPOM[OE]A PURGA.--A species of jalap is obtained from this
convolvulaceous plant; this is a resinous matter contained in the
juices.

246. IRIARTELLA SETIGERA.--A South American palm growing in the
underwood of the forests on the Amazon and Rio Negro. The Indians
use its slender stems for making their blow pipes or gravatanas,
through which they blow small poisoned arrows with accuracy to a
conside