98 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



Danthonia robusta, F. v. Mueller. 



Australian Alps. Forms large patches of rich forage at the 

 very edge of glaciers. The tall D. rigida (Raoul) of New 

 Zealand is closely allied. 



Daucus Carota, Linne'. 



Europe, North Africa, extra-tropical Asia east to Japan. The 

 Carrot. Biennial. Admits of naturalisation along our shores. 

 Beyond the ordinary culinary utilisation it serves for the dis- 

 tillation of a peculiar oil. Large-rooted varieties as well as 

 the herb give a good admixture to stable fodder. Carrot 

 treacle can also be prepared from the root. Requires lime in 

 the soil for its prolific culture. The chemical substances caro- 

 tin and hydrocarotin are derived from it. 



Debregeasia edulis, Weddell. 



The Janatsi-itsigo or Teon-itsigo of Japan. Berries of this 

 bush edible, fibre valuable for textile fabrics. A few Indian 

 species, with fibre resembling that of Boehmeria, ascend to the 

 Himalayas for several thousand feet, and may therefore be 

 very hardy, namely, D. velutina, D. Wallichiana, D. hypo- 

 leuca ; the latter extends to Abyssinia, where it has been 

 noticed at elevations of 8,000 feet. On mountains in Java 

 occurs D. dichotoma. 



Dendrocalamus giganteus, Munro. 



Malacca and the adjacent islands. Habit of Gigantochloa 

 maxima ; therefore one of the mightiest of all Bamboos. 



Dendrocalamus Hamilton!, Nees. 



Himalayas, between 2,000 and 6,000 feet. Height up to 60 

 feet. The young shoots of this stately Bamboo are edible in a 

 boiled state (Brandis). It eudures great cold as well as dry 

 heat (Kurz). 



Dendrocalamus strict us, Nees. 



India, particularly Bengal. Grows on drier ground than 

 Bamboos generally. Its strength and solidity render it fit for 

 many select technic purppses. It attains a height of 100 

 feet and forms occasionally forests of its own. It endures 

 great cold as well as dry heat (Kurz) . 



Desmodium triflorum, Candolle. 



In tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and America. A densely 

 matted perennial herb, alluded to on this occasion as recom- 



