Phytelephas Macrocarpa

The vegetable ivory plant, a native of

the northern parts of South America. The fruit consists of a

collection of six or seven drupes; each contains from six to nine

seeds, the vegetable ivory of commerce. The seeds at first contain

a clear, insipid liquid; afterwards it becomes milky and sweet,

and changes by degrees until it becomes hard as ivory. Animals eat

the fruit in its young green state; a sweet oily pulp incloses the

seeds, and is collected and sold in the markets under the name of

Pipa de Jagua. Vegetable ivory may be distinguished from animal

ivory by means of sulphuric acid, which gives a bright red color

with the vegetable ivory, but none with the animal ivory.