

in Extra-Tropical Countries. 57 



Boletus bovinus, Linne". 



Europe. Besides this species Dr. Goeppert mentions also the fol- 

 lowing, as sold for food in the markets of Silesia: B. circinans, 

 Persoon; B. edulis, Bulliard; B. luteus, Linne; B. sapidus, Harzer; 

 B. scaber, Bulliard; B. subtomentosus, Linne; B. variegatus, Swartz. 

 Dr. Cooke lauds B. aestivalis, Fries, for food. Dr. L. Planchon's 

 list of edible fungs of France includes from this generic group: 

 B. sereus, Bulliard; B. granulatus, Linne'; B. castaneus, Bulliard. 

 Among the Victorian species one, allied to B. edulis, attains a weight 

 of 3 Ibs., and the pileus then is of 12 inches width. The genus is dis- 

 persed over the globe in numerous species, many doubtless fair esculents. 



Bongardia Rauwolfi, C. A. Meyer. 



From Greece through Turkey to the Caucasus. A perennial herb, 

 the leaves of which are utilized like culinary sorrel. 



Borassus Aethiopicus, Martius. 



Africa, from Zanzibar to Egypt. A palm of gigantic dimensions, 

 its stem attaining 9 feet in diameter at the base, or 7 feet at 4 feet 

 above the ground; sometimes even stems have been measured having 

 a circumference of 37 feet. Leaves occur as much as 12 feet across; 

 they serve for the manufacture of baskets, mats, ropes and sieves. The 

 edible portion of the fruit is yellow, stringy, of a fruity flavor. The 

 sap obtained from incisions in the stem under the leaves yields a kind 

 of palm- wine. In its natural home the tree always denotes water 

 (Colonel Grant). Sir W. Hooker admits only one species, and regards 

 Africa solely as its home. 



Borassus flabelliformis, Linne". 



The "Palmyra." From the Persian Gulf to India, extending to 30 

 North. This noble palm attains a height of 100 feet. The pulp of 

 the fruit serves as food. Enormous masses of sugar and toddy are 

 produced in India from the sap, which flows from incisions of the 

 stalk of the unexpanded flowers. This palm, wherever hardy, should 

 be reared for scenic plantations. Assumed to reach, like the Date- 

 Palm, an age of more than 200 years. Many other Palms are notable 

 for longevity; thus Euterpe oleracea has been calculated to attain 130 

 years; Cocos oleracea, 650 years; Cocos nucifera, 330 years, according 

 to the number of their stem-rings (Langethal), of which however 

 perhaps more than one are formed in a year. 



Boronia megastigma, Nees. 



In Western Australia, on margins of swamps. This remarkable 

 bush is recorded here as an emblem of mourning, its externally 

 blackish flowers rendering it especially eligible for graves. Indus- 

 trially it interests us on account of its very fragrant blossoms, for the 

 sake of which this bush well deserves to be cultivated. The perfume 

 could doubtless be extracted and isolated, particularly by absorbents 

 in vacuum. Individual plants of this Boronia will endure in a culti- 

 vated state for very many years. B. heterophylla (F. v. M.) from 

 King George's Sound is of similar but not quite so strong a scent. 



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