298 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 



Portulacaria Afra, Jacquin. 



South-Africa. A shrub, rising to 12 feet, called " Spekboom/' 

 Affords locally the principal food for elephants; excellent also for 

 sheep-pasture, according to Professor McOwan; hence this succulent 

 shrub may deserve naturalization on stony ridges and in sandy desert- 

 land, not readily otherwise utilized. 



Pouzolzia tuberosa, Wight. 



India. The turnip-shaped root of this herb is edible. The plant 

 may prove hardy in extra-tropic frostless regions, and its root may 

 improve in culture. 



Prangos pabularia, Lindley. 



Plateaux of Mongolia and Thibet. A perennial fodder-herb, much 

 relished by sheep, eligible for cold and arid localities and deserving 

 naturalization on alpine pasture-grounds. Other perennial species 

 exist near the Mediterranean Sea, on the Atlas, the Caucasus and 

 the Indian highlands. P. pabularia is regarded by some as the 

 Silphium of Arrianus. 



Prestoa pubigera, J. Hooker. (Hyospathe pubigera, Grisebach.) 



Trinidad. At an elevation of about 3,000 feet (Krueger). The 

 stem of this palm attains only about 12 feet in height. Valuable 

 among the dwarf .palms, now so much sought for table- and window- 

 decoration. 



Plinglea antiscorbutica, "W. Anderson and R. Brown.* 



The Cabbage or Horse-radish of Kerguelen's Island. The peren- 

 nial long roots taste somewhat like horse-radish. The leaves in never- 

 ceasing growth are crowded cabbage-like into heads, beneath which 

 the annual flower-stalks arise. The plant ascends mountains in its deso- 

 late native island to the height of 1 ,400 feet, but luxuriates most on 

 the sea-border. To arctic and other antarctic countries it would be a 

 boon. Probably it would live on our Alps. Whalers might bring us 

 the roots and seeds of this remarkable plant, which seems never to 

 have entered into culture yet. The plant was used as cabbage by 

 the celebrated Captain Cook and all subsequent navigators, touching 

 at yonder remote spot, and it proved to possess powerful properties 

 against scurvy. Sir Joseph Hooker observes, that Pringlea can 

 sectionally be referred to Cochlearia. The whole plant is rich in a 

 pungent volatile oil. Through culture important new culinary varie- 

 ties may probably be raised from this plant. This vegetable in its 

 natural growth tastes like mustard and cress ; but when boiled 

 it proved a wholesome and agreeable substitute for the ordinary cab- 

 bage. 



Priva Isevis, Jussieu. 



Chili, Argentina. A perennial herb, the small tubers of which 

 can be used for food (Philippi). 



