164 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



Kochia villosa, Lindley. 



In most of the depressed and saline regions of Australia. 

 Renowned amongst occupiers of pasture land as the " Cotton 

 Bush." This rather dwarf shrub resists the extremes of 

 drought and heat of even the trying Central Australian clime. 



Knightia excelsa, R. Brown. 



The Rewa Rewa of New Zealand. This tree is recommended 

 as valuable for ornamental work and furniture (Campbell 

 Walker). 



Kceleria cristata, Persoon. 



Widely dispersed over the globe. A perennial grass of fair 

 nutritive quality, sustaining itself on dry soil. The closely 

 allied K. glauca can be sown with advantage on coast sand. 



Kramer ia triandra, Ruiz. 



Chili, Peru, and Bolivia, at elevations from 3,000 to 8,000 feet. 

 This pretty little shrub can be grown on sandy ridges in an 

 equable clime. It produces the medicinal Ratanhia root, well 

 known also as a dentifrice. The root contains 38 to 43 per 

 cent, tannin (Muspratt) . Some other species have similarly 

 astringent roots, particularly K. Ixine fLoefling), from Central 

 America and West India. Some could be chosen to aid in 

 adorning and diversifying our gardens. 



Lactuca sativa, Linne. 



South Asia. The ordinary annual Lettuce, in use since remote 

 antiquity. It is not without value, especially as a sedative, 

 for medicinal purposes. L. Scariola, Linne, seems to be the 

 wild state of the garden lettuce. L. altissima, Bieberstein, is a 

 variety attaining a height of 9 feet. All yield lactucarium. 



Lactuca virosa, Linne. 



Middle and South Europe, North Africa, Middle Asia. A 

 biennial. The inspissated juice of this lettuce forms the 

 sedative lactucarium. 



Lapageria rosea, Ruiz and Pavon. 



Chili. The Copigue. Almost the only plant which can exist 

 in the area covered by the sulphurous smoke of the local smelt- 

 ing furnaces (Cunningham's Magellan) . A half -woody climber 

 with large sKowy flowers. The berries, which are of the 

 size of a hen's egg, are sweet and edible. The plant bears 

 slight frosts. 



