IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 177 



Mallotus Philippinensis, J. M. (Rottlera tinctoria, Roxburgh.) 

 South Asia and East Australia, in jungle country, extending 

 into New South Wales. A bush or tree attaining, according 

 to Mr. O'Shanesy, a height of 60 feet. Though not of great 

 importance, this plant should not be passed on this occasion, 

 inasmuch as the powdery substance investing the seed capsules 

 constitutes the Kamala, which can be employed not only as 

 an orange dye, but also as an anthelminthic remedy. The 

 Hindoo silk-dyers use it for an orange colour, obtained by 

 boiling the Kamala with carbonate of soda. 



Mangifera indica, Linne. 



South Asia. An evergreen tree, up to 70 feet high. Possibly 

 the Mango Tree could be made to bear its delicious fruit in the 

 warm and humid forest regions as far south as East Gippsland. 

 In the Himalayas its culture for fruit ascends to 3,500 feet 

 outside the tropics. 



Manihot Aipi, Pohl. 



The Sweet Cassava. Tropical South America, but traced as 

 far south as the Parana River. The root is reddish and harm- 

 less; it can therefore be used, unlike that of the follow- 

 ing species, without any further preparations than boiling, as 

 a culinary esculent, irrespective of its starch, being also avail- 

 able for tapioca. Both are somewhat woody plants, several 

 feet high, and they are too important to be left altogether 

 unnoticed on this occasion, although we have no evidence that 

 they will prove productive in a temperate clime. The Aipi 

 has ligneous, tough fibres, stretching along the axis of the 

 tubers, while generally the roots of the following species are 

 free of this central woody substance. 



Manihot utilissima, Pohl. 



The Bitter Cassava or Tapioca Plant. Tropical South America. 

 Closely allied to the former, producing varieties with roots of 

 poisonous acridity and with tubers perfectly harmless. The 

 tubers attain a length of 3 feet; they can be converted 

 into bread or cakes, the volatile poison of the milky sap being 

 destroyed through pressing of the grated root in the first in- 

 stance, and the remaining acridity is expelled by the heating 

 process. The starch, heated in a moist state, furnishes the 

 tapioca. Manihot is abundantly cultivated at Caracas, where 

 the singularly uniform temperature throughout the year is only 

 60 to 70 F. It is a very exhausting crop, and stands thus in 

 need of rich soil and manuring. The propagation is effected by 



