or CASHEW-NUT TREE, a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the decandra class of plants.—Of this only one species is as yet known. known to the botanists, viz. the occidentale. It grows naturally in the West-Indies, and arrives at the height of 20 feet in those places of which it is a native, but cannot be preserved in Britain without the greatest difficulty. The fruit of this tree is as large as an orange; and is full of an acid juice, which is frequently made use of in making punch. To the apex of this fruit grows a nut, of the size and shape of a hare's kidney, but much larger at the end which is next the fruit than at the other. The shell contains an inflammable oil, which is very caustic, so that it will raise blisters on the skin, and has often been very troublesome to those who put the nuts into their mouth to break the shell. The milky juice of this tree will stain linen of a deep black, which cannot be washed out; but it is not known whether the tree which produces the East India nuts called likewise anacardium, is of the same species with this or not. In 1770, Mr Banks and Dr Solander found several of these nuts lying on the ground in a deep valley in New Holland; upon which they made a most diligent search for the tree which bore them, (and which no European botanist ever saw), without being able to find it.

Culture. This plant is easily raised from the nuts, which should be planted each in a separate pot filled with light sandy earth, and plunged into a good hotbed of tanners bark; they must also be kept from moisture till the plants come up, otherwise the nuts are apt to rot. If the nuts are fresh, the plants will come up in about a month; and in two months more, they will be four or five inches high, with large leaves: from which quick progress many people have been deceived, imagining they would continue the like quick growth afterwards; but with all the care that can be taken, they never exceed the height of two feet and an half, and for the most part scarce half as much.

Medicinal Uses. The medical virtues of anacardium have been greatly disputed: many have attributed to them the faculty of comforting the brain and nerves, fortifying the memory, and quickening the intellect; and hence a confection made from them has been dignified with the title of confectio sapientum: others think it better deserves the name of confectio illatorum, and mention instances of its continued use having rendered people maniacal. But the kernel of anacardium is not different in quality from that of almonds. The ill effects attributed to this fruit belong only to the juice contained betwixt the kernels; whose acrimony is so great, that it is said to be employed by the Indians as a caustic. This juice is recommended externally for warts, freckles, and other cutaneous deformities; which it removes only by exulcerating or excoriating the part, so that a new skin comes underneath.