EUCALYPTUS TREES. 489 
Asiatic, are known to produce good caoutchouc, but 
it is questionable whether any of them would prosper 
in our southern latitudes ; nevertheless, for the con- 
servatories of botanic gardens, all such plants should 
be secured, with a view of promoting public instruc- 
tion. 
Ficus rubiginosa, Desfontaines. —New South Wales. 
One of the most hardy of all fig-trees, and very eligi- 
ble among evergreen shade - trees. It is estimated 
that the genus Ficus comprises about 600 species, 
many occurring in cool mountain regions of tropical 
countries. The number of those which would endure 
our clime is probably not small. 
Flindersia Oxleyana, F. von Mueller.—The Yellow 
Wood of New South Wales and Queensland. Other 
species occur there, among which F. Bennettiana is 
the best for avenue purposes. 
Fitzroya Patagonica, J. Hooker.*— Chile as far 
south as Chiloe. The Alerce of the Chileans. Grows 
on swampy, moory places. The diameter of the stem 
reaches sometimes the extraordinary extent of 15 feet. 
The wood is almost always red, easily split, light, 
does not warp, stands exposure to the air for half a 
century, and in Valdivia and Chiloe almost all build- 
ings are roofed with shingles of this tree (Dr. Phil- 
ippi). Like Libocedrus tetragona, this tree should be 
extensively planted in our unutilized swampy moors. 
Flacourtia Ramontchi, l’Heritier. (F. sapida, Rox- 
burgh. )—India up to Beloochistan. This and F. cat- 
aphracta, Roxb., form thorny trees with somewhat 
plum-like fruits. With other species they can be 
adopted for hedge-copses. 
Flueggea Japonica, C. Richard.—China and Japan. 
