302 FOREST CULTURE AND 
Asia, Arabia. A perennial herb, used for condiment, 
also for the distillation of its essential oil. 
Origanum Maru, L. — Palestine. Perennial, and 
very odorous. 
Origanum Onites, L.—Countries of the Mediterra- 
nean Sea. Somewhat shrubby and strongly scented. 
Origanum vulgare, L.—The ordinary Marjoram. 
All Europe, North Africa, North and Middle Asia. 
A scented herb of perennial growth, containing a 
peculiar volatile oil. It prefers limestone soil. O. 
hirtum, Link., O. virens, Hoffmannsegg, and O. nor- 
male, D. Don, are closely allied plants of similar use. 
Several other Marjorams, chiefly Mediterranean, are 
of value. 
Ornithopus sativus, Brotero. —South Europe and 
North Africa. An annual herb, larger than the ordi- 
nary Birdsfoot-clover. It is valuable as a fodder-plant 
on sterile soil. 
Oryza sativa, L.*—The Rice-plant. South Asia and 
North Australia. Annual, like most cereals. The 
many rivulets in our ranges afford ample opportuni- 
ties for irrigating rice-fields ; but these can be form- 
ed with full advantage only in the warmer parts of 
the colony, where rice will ripen as well as in Italy, 
China, or the Southern States of the American Union. 
Among the numerous varieties of Indian Rice may 
be noted as prominent sorts: The Early Rice, which 
ripens in four months and is not injured by saline in- 
undations. The hardier Mountain Rice, which can 
be raised on comparatively dry ground, and which 
actually perishes under lengthened inundation, but 
which is less productive. The Glutinous Rice, which 
succeeds as well in wet as almost dry places, and pro- 
