ed also
affords a great amount of oil.

289. MONODORA GRANDIFLORA.--An African plant belonging to the Anonaceae.
It produces large fruit, which contains a large quantity of seeds
about the size of the Scarlet-Runner bean. They are aromatic and
impart to the fruit the odor and flavor of nutmeg; hence they are
also known as calabash nutmegs.

290. MONSTERA DELICIOSA.--This is a native of southern Mexico and
yields a delicious fruit with luscious pineapple flavor. The outer
skin of the fruit, if eaten, causes a stinging sensation in the
mouth. This is easily removed when the fruit is ripe. The leaves
are singularly perforated with holes at irregular intervals, from
natural causes not sufficiently explained. In Trinidad the plant
is called the Ceriman.

291. MORINGA PTERYGOSPERMA.--A native of the East Indies, where it
bears the name of horse-radish tree. The seeds are called ben nuts
and supply a fluid oil, highly prized by watchmakers, called oil
of ben. The root is pungent and stimulant and tastes like
horse-radish.

292. MORONOBEA COCCINEA.--The hog gum tree, which attains the height of
100 feet. A fluid juice exudes from incisions in the trunk and
hardens into a yellow resin. It is said the hogs in Jamaica when
wounded rub the injured part against the tree so as to cover it
with the gum, which possesses vulnerary properties; hence its
name. The resin has been employed as a substitute for copaiba
balsam, and plasters are made of it.

293. MUCUNA PRURIENS.--A tall climbing plant of the West Indies and
other warm climates. It is called the cowage, or cow-itch, on
account of the seed pods being covered with short brittle hairs,
the points of which are finely serrated, causing an unbearable
itching when applied to the skin, which is relieved by rubbing the
part with oil. It is employed as a vermifuge. In East Africa it is
called Kitedzi. The sea beans found on the coast of Florida are
the seeds of _Mucuna altissima_. In Cuba these are called bulls'
eyes.

294. MURRAYA EXOTICA.--A Chinese plant of the orange family. The fruit
is succulent, and the white flowers are very fragrant. They are
used in perfumery.

295. MUSA CAVENDISHII.--This is a valuable dwarf species of the banana
from southern China. It bears a large truss