336 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 



Rumex vesicarius, Linne". 



Southern Europe, Middle Asia, Northern Africa. An annual herb 

 of the same utility as other sorrels. 



Ruscus aculeatus, Linne. 



Middle and Southern Europe, Northern Africa, South-Western 

 Asia. This odd plant serves for forming garden-hedges. The young 

 shoots of this and a few allied plants are edible. 



Russula vesca, Fries. 



Europe. One of the best of mushrooms for the kitchen within the 

 genus Russula, which has representatives in most parts of the globe. 

 Dr. Cooke mentions further as culinary R. lepida and R. virescens 

 (Fries.). Professor Morren notes R. integra (Fries) as used among 

 the Belgian champignons. Under any circumstances, mushrooms 

 should only be used when fresh collected or quickly dried. 



Ruta graveolens, Linne*. 



The Rue. Mediterranean countries and the Orient. Hardy in 

 Norway to lat. 63 26'. The foliage of this acrid and odorous shrub, 

 simply dried, constitutes the rue-herb of medicine. The allied R. 

 sylvestris (Miller) is still more powerful in its effect. These plants 

 and others of the genus contain a peculiar volatile oil and a glycosid, 

 the rutiii. Fresh they should be handled most cautiously, best with 

 gloves. 



Sabal Adansoni, Guernsent. 



Dwarf Palmetto. South-Carolina, Georgia and Florida. A stem- 

 less Fan-palm, with the following congeners, Rhaphidophyllum 

 Hystrix and Washingtonia filifera, attaining the most northerly 

 positions of any American palms. According to Count de Saporta 

 it resists a temperature as low as 17 F. Professor Ch. Naudin found 

 it to endure the frosts in Southern France to 43 20' north latitude. 

 This palm does well in marshy places. 



Sabal Palmetto, Loddiges.* 



Extends from Florida to North-Carolina. The stem attains a 

 height of 40 feet. This hardy palm delights on sandy coast- 

 tracts. Stems almost imperishable under water, not attacked by the 

 teredo, 



Sabal serrulata, JRoemer and Schultes. (Serenaea serrulata, J. Hooker.) 



The Saw-Palmetto. South-Carolina, Georgia and Florida, particu- 

 larly well adapted for sea-coasts. The stem grows to eight feet in 

 height, but according to Mr. A. J. Cook may slimly creep along the 

 ground for 20 feet, sending roots beneath for nourishment. This is a 

 grand honey-plant. Mr. G. Damko'hler mentions this Sabal as a tan- 

 plant. The leaves can be used for cabbage-tree hats, mats, baskets 

 and other purposes, for which palm-leaves are sought. The fibrous- 

 spongy parts of the stem serve as brushes. 



