214 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 



Melianthus major, Linne. 



South- Africa. The leaves of this stately plant are very efficacious 

 as antiseptics, also in cases of scald-head, ringworm and various other 

 cutaneous diseases (Dr. Pappe). Its effect of promoting granulation 

 is very remarkable (Dr. A. Brown). Flowers rich in honey, as 

 indicated by the generic name. Will bear some frost. 



Melica altissima, Linne\ 



Eastern Europe, Middle Asia. This perennial grass has recently 

 come into use for pasture. 



Melica ciliata, Linne". 



Europe and Middle Asia. A perennial fodder-grass, particularly 

 desirable for sheep. Best for dry gypsum- or lime-ground. 



Melica nutans, Linne". 



The Pearl-Grass. Europe, Northern and Middle Asia, enduring 

 an alpine exposure and living also in the shade of forests. It will 

 bear the clime of Norway to lat. 70 28' (Schuebeler). It produces 

 suckers, and affords good foliage in woody regions; so also does M. 

 uniflora (Retzius). Several other species are on record from various 

 parts of the globe, among which M. mutica (Walter), of North- 

 America, seems to deserve special attention. 



Melica sarmentosa, Nees. 



Brazil and La Plata- States. A tall grass, climbing to a height of 

 12 feet in forests and on river-banks. Prof. Hieronymus speaks of 

 M. aurantiaca (Desrousseaux), M. laxiflora (Cavanilles), M. macra 

 (Nees), M. papilionacea (Linne), M. rigida and M. violacea (Cava- 

 nilles) as perennial Pampas-grasses, which though hard, are nutri- 

 tious, and particularly sought by asses and mules. 



Melicocca bijuga, Linne". 



Central America, on mountains. So many sapindaceous trees of 

 the Cupania-series have been shown by my own experiments to be 

 hardy in a climate like that of Victoria, that this important member of 

 the series could now also be admitted into this list. The pulp of the 

 fruit is of a grape-taste; the seeds can be used like sweet chestnuts. 



Melilotus alba, Desrousseaux. 



The Cabul- or Bokhara-Clover. Europe, North-Africa, Middle 

 Asia. Indigenous in Norway to lat. 60 16' (Schuebeler). A bien- 

 nial herb. On account of its fragrance it is of value as admixture to 

 hay. It is also a good bee-plant, the white flowers lasting till late 

 in the season. Odorous principle : cumarin. 



Melilotus coerulea, Lamarck. 



South-Europe and North-Africa. Cultivated in Norway to lat. 70 

 22'. An annual, very odorous fodder-herb. It forms an ingredient 

 of the green Swiss cheese,, which owes its flavor and color chiefly to 

 this plant. 



