IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 317 



spines, dropping their seeds as they roll along. The heads 

 are so buoyant as to float lightly on water, and while the 

 uppermost spiny rays are acting as sails, they are carried 

 across narrow estuaries to continue the process of embanking 

 beyond on any newly-formed sandbars. 



Spondias dnlcis, G. Foster. 



Fiji, Tongan, and Society Islands. This noble tree is intro- 

 duced into this list to indicate that trials should be instituted 

 as regards the culture of the various good fruit-bearing species 

 of this genus, one of which, S. pleiogyna (F. von. Mueller), 

 transgresses in East Australia the tropical circle. The la- 

 mented Dr. Seemann saw S. dulcis 60 feet high, and describes 

 it as laden with fruit of agreeable apple-flavour called Eewa, 

 and attaining over 1 Ib. weight. 



Sporobus virginicus, R. Brown. 



Jamaica. Will luxuriate even in sandy maritime places, and 

 keep perfectly green after three or four months' drought. 

 Horses become rapidly and astonishingly fat in feeding upon it 

 (Tenman). S. Indicus and S. purpuraceus and S. Jacquemonti 

 are also highly spoken of as pasture grasses in the West 

 Indian Islands. 



Stenotaphrum Americanum, Schranck. (S. glabrum, Trinius.) 

 South Asia, Africa, warmer countries of America; not known 

 from any part of Europe or Australia. Here called the 

 Buffalo Grass. It is perennial, creeping, and admirably 

 adapted for binding sea-sand and river banks, also for forming 

 garden edges, and for establishing a grass sward on lawns 

 much subjected to traffic ; it is, besides, of some value as pasture. 

 It was this grass which Mr. John C. Bell reared with so 

 much advantage for fodder on the bare rocks of the Island of 

 Ascension, and it was there where Australian Acacias took the 

 lead to establish wood vegetation and for securing permanency 

 of drinking-water. 



Sterculia Carthaginensis, Cavanilles. (S. Chicka, St. Hilaire.) 

 South Brazil. This and some other South American species 

 furnish seeds of almond-like taste. 



Sterculia monosperma, Ventenat. (S. nobilis, R. Brown.) 



China. A middle-sized spreading tree. The large seeds can 

 be used as chestnuts in a roasted state. 



