in Extra-Tropical Countries. 99 



Convallaria majalis, Linn. 



Europe, Northern and Middle Asia to Japan. The " Lily of the 

 Valley." Far famed as a lovely fragrant spring-plant, desirable for 

 naturalization in any temperate forest-regions, quite a trade-plant for 

 bouquet-sellers, reintroduced into medicine also latterly, particularly 

 in the treatment of cardial affections and dropsy. Both root and 

 flowers have also sternutatorian properties. 



Convolvulus noridus, Linn fil. 



Canary-Islands. A shrubby species, not climbing or winding. 

 With C. scoparius it yields the Atlantic Rosewood from stem and 

 root. 



Convolvulus Scamnionia, 



Mediterranean regions and Asia Minor. A perennial herb. The 

 purgative drug, Scammonia-resin, is obtained from the root, which 

 will grow to 2 feet in length. Plants readily raised from seeds. To 

 obtain the drug, a portion of the root is laid bare, and into incisions 

 made some shells are inserted, to collect the juice, which is daily 

 removed (Maw). 



Copernicia cerifera, Martius.* 



Brazil, extending into Bolivia and Argentina. This magnificent 

 Fan-palm has been proved to be hardy as far south as Sydney, by 

 Mr. Charles Moore. It resists drought in a remarkable degree, and 

 prospers also on a somewhat saline soil. The stem furnishes starch; 

 the sap yields sugar; the fibres of the leaf -sheets are converted into 

 ropes, which resist decay in water; the leaves can be used for mats, 

 hats, baskets and brooms, and many other articles are prepared from 

 them. The inner part of the leaf-stalks serves as a substitute for cork. 

 This palm however is mainly valued for the Carnauba-wax, with which 

 its young leaves are coated, and which can be detached by shaking. 

 This is harder than bees' wax, and is used in the manufacture of caudles. 

 Each tree furnishes about 4 Ibs. annually. In 1862 no less than 

 2,500,000 Ibs. were imported into Great Britain, realizing about 

 100,000. 



Coprinus comatus, Fries. 



Europe, Asia. Included by Dr. L. Planchon among the Champig- 

 nons for French kitchens. Other species elsewhere are probably quite 

 as good, but they all can only be used for food in a very young state. 

 More important are the deliquiscent species of Coprinus, such as C. 

 atramentarius, C. ovatus, C. cylindraceus (Fries), for the preparation of 

 a black water- color and also ink, both indelible (Wilson's Rural 

 Cyclop.); the black fluid emitted needs the addition of some anti- 

 septic to preserve it. Various Coprini are also common in Victoria. 



Corchorus acutangulus, Lamarck. 



Tropical Africa, South-Asia and North- Australia. This plant is 

 specially mentioned by some writers as a jute-plant. A particular 



