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373. Mercurialis leiocarpa, S. et Z., Jap. Yama-ai ;
an evergreen herbaceous plant of the order Euphorbiaceae growing
wild in shady places 1-2 fts. high. In summer it bears yellowish
green flowers of the two sexes on the separate plant or on the
same plant. In former times the juice of this plant was used to
print on clothes in blue colour, but this plant does not contain
enough the colouring matter to make indigo balls.
373. b. Justicia, Jap. Riukiu-ai ; an evergreen herb of
the order Acanthacese produced in Riukiu islands. Several stems
grow in group from one root, attaining to a height of 1 or 2 fts.
The leaves are oblong oval and of a bright dark green colour. It
bears flowers very rarely. In Riukiu it is cut several times in a
year and made into indigo. As this plant contains a great quantity
of good indigo, it is now cultivated also in the southern countries.
374. Myrica rubra, S. et Z., Jap. Yama-momo ; an
evergreen tree of the order Amentaceas growing wild in warm
regions, attaining to a height
of 10-20 fts. It is a diaecious
plant. In spring, the male flowers appear in the form of aments,
and the female in short spikes. The fruits are of a purplish red
colour with an agreeable sweet taste. There is a variety which
produces white fruits. The bark which has the name of Momokawa
or SJiibuki contains much tannin and is used for a
brown dye.
374. b. Machilus thunbergii, S. et Z, Jap. Tamakusu,
Yama-kiisu, Madami ; the bark of this plant (553. b.)
serves as a brown dye in
Hac/iijo-jima.
374. c. Ternstroemia japonica, T/i,, Jap. Mokkoku /
the bark of this plant (661) is used as a brown dye
for clothes in
the Islands of Hachijo, Miyake and Mikura.
374. d. RhapMolepis japonica, S. et Z., Jap. Hamaniokkoku,
Hebaru-no-ki [Satmina), Tekachigi (Loochoo), Saema
(HachiJQ-jima] ; the bark of this plant (671) is used for dying
dark brown. In the islands of Okinawa, Oshima and Hachijo,
it is
used to dye Tsumugi and other clothes.