IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 11 



vaded with essential oil, containing also a bitter principle 

 (achillein) and a peculiar acid, which takes its name from the 

 generic appellation of the plant. 



Achillea moschata, Wulfen. 



Alps of Europe. The Genipi or Iva of the Alpine inhabitants. 

 This perennial herb ought to be transferred to our snowy moun- 

 tains. With the allied A. nana (L.) and A. atrata (L.), it 

 enters as a component into the aromatic medicinal Swiss tea. 

 Many species of this genus, including the Yarrow, are whole- 

 some to sheep. A. fragrantissima (Reichenbach) is a shrubby 

 species from the deserts of Egypt, valuable for its medicinal 

 flowers. 



Achras sapota, Linne. 



The Sapodilla Plum of West India and Central Continental 

 America. A fine evergreen tree, producing delicious fruit. 

 Achras Australis, a tree yielding also tolerably good fruit, 

 occurs in New South Wales. Other sapotaceous trees, producing 

 table-fruit, such as the Lucuma mammosa (the Marmalade 

 Tree), Lucuma Bonplaiidi, Chrysophyllum Cainito (the Star 

 Apple) , all from West India ; and Lucuma Cainito of Peru, 

 might also be subjected to trial culture in our forest valleys ; 

 so furthermore many of the trees of this order, from which 

 gutta-percha is obtained (species of Dichopsis Tsonandra, 

 Sideroxylon, Cacosmanthus, Bassia, Mimusops, and Imbricaria 

 Payenia) , would prove hardy in sheltered woodlands, as they 

 seem to need rather an equable, humid, mild clime, than the heat 

 of the torrid zone. 



Aconitum Napellus, Linne. 



The Monk's Hood. In the colder, especially mountainous, parts 

 of Europe and Northern Asia. A powerful medicinal plant of 

 perennial growth, but sometimes only of biennial duration, 

 variable in its forms. It was first introduced into Australia, 

 together with a number of other Aconits, by the writer of this 

 communication. All the species possess more or less modified 

 medicinal qualities, as well in their herb as in their root ; but 

 so dangerously powerful are they, that the plants can only be 

 administered by the exercise of legitimate medical practice. 

 Napellus root, according to Dr. Wittstein, contains three alka- 

 loids : aconitin, napellin, and narcotin. The foliage contains 

 also a highly acrid, volatile principle, perhaps chemically not 

 unlike that of many other R/anunculacese. Aconitin, one of the 

 most potent of any of the medicinal substances in existence, 



