IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 223 



Phalaris aquatica, 



South Europe and North Africa. Important as a perennial 

 fodder grass, fit for wet ground. 



Phalaris Canariensis, Linne. 



The Canary Grass. An annual grass from the Canary 

 Islands, now widely dispersed as a spontaneous plant over 

 the warmer zones of the globe. Thus it has also become 

 naturalised in Australia. It is grown for its seeds, which 

 form one of the best kinds of fodder for many sorts of small 

 cage-birds. The flour is utilised in certain processes of cotton 

 manufacture, and liked for some kinds of cakes. The soil 

 for the culture of the Canary Grass must be friable and not 

 too poor. It is an exhaustive crop. As allied annual species 

 of similar use, but mostly of less yield, may be enumerated : 

 P. brachystachys (Link.) from Italy, P. minor (Retz) and P. 

 truncata (Guss.) from various countries on the Mediterranean 

 Sea. Other species, including some from Asia, are deserving 

 of trial ; but the perennial British P. arundmacea (L.) is too 

 harsh to serve for wholesome fodder, nor does it furnish 

 Canary seed. 



Pharnaceum acidum, J. Hooker. 



St. Helena. A dwarf perennial succulent plant, which might 

 advantageously be naturalised on sea- shores, to yield an acid 

 salad, perhaps superior to that of Portulaca oleracea. 



Phaseolus aconitifolius, Jacquin. 



India, up to 4,000 feet. A dwarf species. Dr. Forbes 

 "Watson admits it among the culinary beans of India. It will 

 bear on arid soil. P. trilobus (Aiton) is a variety. 



Phaseolus adenanthus, G. Meyer. (P Truxillensis, Humboldt; 



P. restrains, Wallich.) 



Almost cosmopolitan witihin the tropics, where irrespective 

 of navigation and other traffic it becomes dispersed by mi- 

 grating birds ; truly spontaneous also in tropical Australia. A 

 perennial herb with large flowers, resembling those of Vigna 

 vexillata (Benth.). Cultivated for its seeds, which are rather 

 small, but copiously produced. A variety with edible roots 

 occurs. 



Phaseolus coccineus, Kniphof.* (P. multiflorus, Willdenow.) 



The Turkish Bean or Scarlet Runner. A native of the 

 Orient, if SprengeFs identification is correct, according to 



