IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 17 



feet. Available for our forests on account of its peculiar dark 

 and hard wood. Another congener, A. subcoriacea (Pithecolo- 

 bium subeoriaeeum, Thwaites) , from the mountains of India is 

 deserving, with numerous other tall species, of cultivation. 



Albizzia dulcis, F. v. Mueller. (PitkecoloUum dulce, Bentham.) 



Mexico. A valuable hedge plant. The sweet pulp of the pod 

 is wholesome. 



Albizzia Julibrissin, Durazzim. 



From the Caucasus to Japan. A favourite ornamental shade- 

 acaeia in South Europe. 



Albizzia latisiliqua, F. v. Mueller. (Lysiloma latuitiqua, 

 Bentham.) 



Tropical America. A large spreading tree ; diameter of trunk 

 to 3 feet ; wood excellent for select cabinet-work, excelling, 

 according to Nuttall, the Mahogany in its variable shining 

 tints, which appear like watered satin ; it is white, hard, and 

 close-grained. 



Albizzia Lebbek, Bentham. 



The Siris Acacia of South and Middle Asia, North Africa. 

 Available as a shade tree. It produces also a good deal of gum. 



Albizzia lophantha, Benth. (Acacia lophantha, Willdenow.) 



South- West Australia. One of the most rapidly growing 

 trees for copses and first temporary shelter in exposed localities, 

 but never attaining to the size of a real tree. It produces 

 seeds abundantly, which germinate most easily. For the most 

 desolated places, especially in desert tracts, it is of great 

 importance to create quickly shade, shelter, and copious vegeta- 

 tion. Cattle browse on the leaves. The bark contains only 

 about 8 per cent, mimosa-tannin ; but Mr. Rummel found in 

 the dry root about 10 per cent, of saponin, valuable in silk and 

 wool factories. Saponin also occurs in Xylia dolabriformis of 

 South Asia. In Australia found better still than the Broom- 

 bush for shelter of new forest plantations in open sand- lands. 



Albizzia Saman, F. v. Mueller. (PithecoloUum Saman, Bentham.) 

 Mexico. A lofty tree, particularly valuable for wet saline 

 country. The pulpy pods are edible. 



Albizzia stipulata, Bentham. 



South Asia to the Himalayas and China. An umbrageous tree 

 of easy culture. 



