Aloes-wood, also known as eagle-wood and agila-wood, IS the inner portion of the trunk of Aquilaria ovata and Aquilaria Agallochum, forest trees belonging to the order Aquilariaceae, found in tropical Asia, and yielding a fragrant resinous substance, which, as well as the wood, is burned for its perfume. Another tree, the Aloexylon Agallochum of the order Leguminosae, also produces aloes-wood. This wood is supposed to be the lign-aloes of the Bible. Research Aloes-wood
Brazil-wood a kind of wood yielding a red dye, obtained from several trees of the genusCaesalpinia, of the order Leguminosae, natives of the West Indies and Central and South America. The best kind is Caesalpinia echinata; other varieties are Caesalpinia brasiliensis, Caesalpinia orista and Caesalpinia Sappan. The wood is hard and heavy, and as it takes on a fine polish it is used by cabinet-makers for various purposes, but its principal use is in dyeing red. The dye is obtained by reducing the wood to powder and boiling it in water, when the water receives the red colouring principle, which is a crystallizable substance called brazilin. The colour is not permanent unless fixed by suitable mordants. Research Brazil-Wood
Abrus is a genus of papilionaceous plants, of the natural order Leguminosae, one species of which, Abrus precatonus, a delicate twining shrub, a native of the East Indies, and found also in tropical parts of Africa and America, has round brilliant scarlet seeds, which are used to make necklaces and rosaries. Its root is sweetish and mucilaginous, and is used as a substitute for liquorice. The seeds yield a strung poison. Research Abrus
Acacia is a genus of plants of the family Leguminosae sub-family Mimoseae consisting of trees or shrubs with compoundpinnate leaves. They grow in Africa, Arabia, Australia and the East Indies. The flowers, usually small, are arranged in spikes or globular heads at the axils of the leaves near the extremity of the branches. The corolla is bell or funnel shaped; stamens are numerous; the fruit is a dry unjointed pod. Several of the species yield gum-arabic and other gums; some have astringent barks and pods, used in tanning. Acacia Catechu, an Indian species, yields the valuable astringent called catechu; Acacia dealbata the wattle-tree of Australia, from five to ten metres in height, is the most beautiful and useful of the species found there. Its bark contains a large percentage of tannin, and is hence exported. Some species yield valuable timber; some are cultivated for the beauty of their flowers. Research Acacia
Adenanthera is a genus of trees and shrubs native to the East Indies and Ceylon of the family Leguminosae. Adenanthera pavonina is one of the largest and most handsome trees of India, and yields hard solid timber called red sandal-wood. The bright scarlet seeds, from their equality in weight (each weighing four grains), are used by goldsmiths in the East as weights. Research Adenanthera
Alfalfa or lucerne (Medicago sativa) is a prolific perennial tall herbaceous plant of the pea family Leguminosae. It is native to Eurasia and bears spikes of small purple flowers in late summer. It is now a major fodder crop, generally processed into hay, meal, or silage. Alfalfa sprouts, the sprouted seeds, have become a popular salad ingredient. Research Alfalfa
The asoka (Jonesia. Asoca) is an Indian tree of the natural order Leguminosae, having a lovely flower, showing orange, scarlet, and bright yellow tints. The asoka is sacred to the god Siva, and is often mentioned in Indian literature. Research Asoka
Bauninia (named after the Swiss botanist Gaspard Bauhin) is a genus of plants of the order Leguminosae. They are usually twiners, found in the woods of hot countries, and often stretching from tree to tree like cables. Many are showy and interesting. The bark of Bauninia variegata is used in tanning; the bast fibres of some Indian species are made into ropes and twine. Research Bauninia
Broom is the popular name of several allied genera of shrubs of the family Leguminosae. In Britain the name is generally applied to Cytisus scoparius, a shrub with erect, green, angled, tough spineless stems and numerous small alternate leaves which are lanceolate below and trifoliate in the upper parts of the stems. The flowers are large, yellow and grow singularly in the upper leaf axils. Research Broom
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Aloes-wood
