IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 27 



prefers the vicinity of the sea. Berry shining black, with a 

 sweet mealy pulp. 



Phoenix reclinata, Jacquin. 



South Africa, in the eastern districts. A hardy species, but 

 not tall, often reclining. It is adapted for ornamentation. 

 The sweet coating of the fruit is edible (Backhouse). 



Phoenix silvestris, Roxburgh. 



India, almost on any soil or in any situation. It has proved 

 at Melbourne a very hardy species. Its greatest height is 

 40 feet. Berries yellowish or reddish, larger than in P. 

 pusilla. Where this Palm abounds much sugar is obtained from 

 it by evaporation of the sap, which flows from incisions into the 

 upper part of the trunk a process not sacrificing the plant, as 

 for twenty years the sap can thus be withdrawn. A kind of 

 arrack is obtained by fermentation and distillation of this sap, 

 and also from the young spikes. Each plant furnishes the 

 juice for about 8 Ibs. of date sugar annually, but in some in- 

 stances much more. About 50,000 tons of sugar are produced 

 a year in Bengal alone from this and some other palms. The 

 leaves are used for mats. It lives in drier regions than other 

 Indian palms. 



Phoenix spinosa, Thonning. 



Tropical Africa, ascending mountain regions, thus perhaps 

 hardy. Dr. Kirk found the green bushes, if immersed in 

 water for half a day, suddenly to assume a scarlet hue, and 

 then the astringent pulp to become edible and sweet. 



Phormium tenax, J. R. and G. Forster.* 



The Flax Lily of New Zealand, where it occurs as far south as 

 46 30', occurring also in the Chatham Islands and Norfolk 

 Island, though not on Lord Howe's Island. It seems impor- 

 tant that this valuable plant should be brought universally 

 under culture, particularly on any inferior spare ground, or on 

 the sea-beaches or any rocky declivity, where it may be left 

 unprotected to itself, as no grazing animal will touch it. It 

 is evident that the natural up-growth will soon be inedequate 

 to the demand for the plant. It is adapted for staying bush 

 fires when planted in hedgerows. Merely torn into shreds the 

 leaves serve at once in gardens and vineyards as cordage, and 

 for this purpose, irrespective of its showy aspect, the Phormium 

 has been distributed from the Botanic Garden of Melbourne 

 since the last twenty years. From the divided roots any 



