Soapberry.

Soapberry. The fruits of several species of trees belonging to the genus Sapindus (natural order Sapindaceæ) contain a pulp which is useful as a substitute for soap in cleaning linen and other textile fabrics. In the West Indies the fruit of Sapindus Saponaria, and in the East Indies those of S. emarginatus and S. attenuatus are much used for this purpose. The frothy mixture which these fruits make with hot water is said to be very serviceable for cleaning dyed fabrics which soap would injure. In France silk stuffs are cleaned with the seed vessels of S. emarginatus. The seeds of S. Saponaria are made up into rosaries, and were formerly worn in England tipped with gold, silver, &c. as buttons.