EUCALYPTUS TREES. 819 
of 
and even Natal. A shrubby plant, attaining a height 
of 6 feet. Pods straight, cylindrical, many-seeded. 
Extensively cultivated in warm zones for indigo, and 
probably hardy in our northern and eastern lowland 
regions. 
Inula Helenium, L.—The Elecampane. Middle 
and South Europe, Middle Asia, eastward to Japan. 
A perennial herb. The bitter and somewhat aromat- 
ic root, for the sake of its stimulating and tonic prop- 
erties, is used in medicine. It contains also the amy- 
laceous Inulin and the crystalline Helenin. 
Ipomeea Batatas, Poiret.* (Batatas edulis, Choisy. ) 
—The Sweet Potato. Tropical South America. First 
brought to Europe from Brazil. It proved well adapt- _ 
ed also for our part of Australia and for New Zealand. 
The tubers afford a palatable food, more nutritious 
than ordinary potatoes. Varieties with red, white, 
and yellow roots occur. Each tuber weighs generally 
from 3 to 5 pounds, but may occasionally attain to 
56 pounds. The yield is from 200 to 300 bushels from 
an acre. 
Ipomeea paniculata, R. Brown.—Almost a cosmo- 
politan plant on tropical coasts ; thus indigenous to 
North Australia and the warmer ‘parts of East Aus- 
tralia. The tubers also of this species are edible. If 
hardy, the plant would deserve cultivation. 
Ipomcea purga, Wenderoth.—Mountains of Mexico. 
The true Jalap. This species yields the medicinal 
Jalap root. It has recently been cultivated with ap- 
parent success even at New York. Thus itis entitled 
to a trial in our warm woodlands. Active principle : 
the resinous convolvulin. 
IJpomeea simulaus, Hanbury.—Mexico. From this 
