IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 167 



haps it might serve with allied plants for green manure. The 

 bulky foliage has proved valuable for fodder, and so has that of 

 Lavatera plebeja (Sims) . 



Lawsonia alba, Lamarck. 



North and Middle Africa, Persia, Arabia, India, and North- 

 Western Australia. The Henne or Henna Bush. It may 

 become of use as a dye-plant in the regions free of frost. 

 The orange pigment is obtained from the ground foliage. 

 The plant can also be used for garden hedges. 



Leersia hexandra, Swartz. 



Africa, South Asia, warmer parts of America and Australia. 

 Found by Mr. Bailey to be one of the most relished by 

 cattle among aquatic grasses of East Australia. L. Gouini 

 (Fournier) is a Mexican species. 



Leersia oryzoides, Swartz. 



Middle and South Europe, various parts of Asia, Africa, and 

 America. A perennial, nutritious swamp grass. Other Leer- 

 sias from both hemispheres are deserving of introduction. 



Lepidium latifolium, Linne. 



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

 herb of peppery acridity, much used for some select sauces. 



Lepidium sativum, Linne. 



The Cress. Orient. Annual. Irrespective of its culinary 

 value, cress is of use as one of the remedies in cases of 

 scurvy. Active principle : a volatile oil and the bitter lepi- 

 din. 



Lepidosperma gladiatum, Labillardiere. 



The Sword Sedge of the sea-coasts of extra-tropical Australia. 

 One of the most important plants for binding sea-sand, also 

 yielding a paper material as good as Sparta. 



Leptospermum Isevigatum, P. v. Mueller. (Fabricia lavigata, 

 Gaertner.) 



The ' ' Sandstay." Sea-shores and sand deserts of extra-tropical 

 Australia, but not extending to Western Australia. This 

 shrub or small tree is the most effectual of all for arresting 

 the progress of drift sand in a warm clime. It is most easily 

 raised by simply scattering in autumn the seeds on the sand 

 and covering them loosely with boughs, or better still by 



