80 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



into Australia by the writer with a view of being naturalised on 

 moist meadows in our ranges. Active principle : colchicin. 



Colocasia antiquorum, Schott. 



From Egypt through South Asia to the South Sea Islands ; 

 apparently also indigenous in the warmer parts of East Aus- 

 tralia. The Taro. The stem-like, tuberous, starchy roots lose 

 their acridity by the process of boiling, roasting, or baking. 

 It is the Kolkas of the Arabs and Egyptians, to them one of 

 the most esteemed and abundant vegetables. Immense quan- 

 tities are harvested and kept during the winter. The plant 

 proved hardy as far south as Melbourne. Cultivated as far south 

 as New Zealand. The tops of the tubers are replanted for a 

 new crop. Taro requires a rich moist soil and would grow well 

 on banks of rivers. For scenic culture it is a very decorative 

 plant. Colocasia esculenta is a variety of this species. 



Colocasia Indica, Kunth. (Alocasia Indica, Schott.) 



South Asia, South Sea Islands, and East Australia. Cultivated 

 for its stem and tubers on swamps or rivulets. This stately 

 plant will rise in favourable localities to a height of 12 feet, the 

 edible trunk attaining a considerable thickness, the leaves 

 sometimes measuring 3 feet in length. In using the stem 

 and root for food, great care is needed to expel by the heating 

 process all acridity. Colocasia odora and C. macrorrhiza seem 

 varieties of this species. Several other aroid plants deserve 

 attention for test-culture on account of their edible roots, among 

 them Cyrtosperma edule, Seemann, from the Fiji Islands. 



Combretum butyraceum, Caruel. 



The Butter Tree of Caffraria and other parts of South-East 

 Africa. The Caffirs call the fatty substance obtained from 

 this tree Chiquito. It is largely used by them as an admix- 

 ture to their food, and exported also. It contains about one- 

 quarter olein and three-quarters margarin. This butter-like 

 fat is extracted from the fruit, and is of an aromatic flavour. 

 The tree should be hardy in the warmer and milder parts of 

 Victoria. 



Comptonia asplenifolia, Solander. 



North America. The Sweet Fernbush. This dwarf shrub 

 is perhaps quite worthy of dissemination on sterile hills, as the 

 foliage contains nearly 10 per cent, of tannin, an extract of 

 which has come into the tanning trade. 



