IN EKTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 315 



berries, which need, however, to be fully ripe for securing 

 absence of deleterious properties. 



Solanum xanthocarpum, Schrader and Wendland. 



North Africa and South Asia. A perennial herb. The berries 

 are of the size of a cherry, and either yellow or scarlet. 



Sophora Japonica, Linne.* 



A deciduous tree of China and Japan, resembling the Labur- 

 num, up to 60 feet hieh; wood hard and compact, valued 

 for turners' work. All parts of the plant purgative; the 

 flowers rich in yellow dye, used for silk. 



Sophora tetraptera, Aiton. (Var. Macnabiana, Graham. 



The Pelu of Chili and Patagonia. A small tree with exceed- 

 ingly hard and durable wood, much used for cog-wheels and 

 similar structures. The wood differs much from that of S. 

 Toramiro of the Easter Island (Dr. Philippi). 



Spartina cynosnroides, Willdenow. 



Eastern part of North America. A perennial grass of fresh- 

 water swamps, there often called Prairie Grass; it can be 

 utilised for fodder, and its value as paper material seems equal 

 to that of Esparto. 



Spartina juncea, Willdenow. 



Salt marshes of North America. A grass with creeping roots ; 

 it can be utilised to bind moist sand on the coast. A tough 

 fibre can readily be obtained from the leaves. S. polystachya 

 (W.) is a stately grass, adapted for saline soil. 



Spartina stricta, Roth. 



Countries on the Mediterranean Sea, extending to Britain 

 and also to North America. The Twin-piked Cord Grass. ^ A 

 rigid perennial with creeping roots, recommended for fixing 

 and rendering solid any mud flats on low shores and at the 

 mouths of rivers ; only suitable for brackish ground. 



Spartium junceum, 



Countries around the Mediterranean Sea. The flowers of this 

 bush provide a yellow dye. A textile fibre can be separated 

 from the branches. 



Spergula arvensis, 



All Europe, North Africa, West Asia. This annual herb, 



