378 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 



Torreya grandis, Fortune. 



The " Kaya " of China. A tree at length 60 feet high, with an 

 umbrella-shaped crown; it produces good timber. 



Torreya nucifera, Siebold. (Oaryotaxus nucifera, Zuccarini.) 



Japan. Height of tree about 30 feet. From the nuts the Japanese 

 press an oil, used as an article of food. The wood is highly valued 

 in Japan by coopers, also by turners; it resembles to some extent 

 boxwood (Dupont). 



Torreya taxifolia, Arnott. 



Florida. A tree, reaching about 50 feet in height. Wood firm, 

 close-grained, light, durable, of a reddish color; very lasting also 

 underground. Prostrated trees did not decay in half a century. 

 Timber slightly more yellow than that of the white pine (P. J. White). 

 The tree yields a reddish turpentine (Hoopes). 



Touchardia latifolia, Gaudichaud. 



In the Hawaian Islands. A shrub, allied to Boehmeria nivea, 

 yielding a tough and easily separable fibre, as shown by Dr. Hille- 

 brand. Probably best adapted to humid warm gullies. 



Tragopogon porrifolius, Linne". 



The " Salsify." Middle and Southern Europe, Northern Africa, 

 South- Western Asia; hardy to lat. 70 in Norway. Biennial. The 

 root of this herb is well known as a useful culinary vegetable ; it is 

 obtainable even in cold countries through the winter ; the young 

 leaves supply a very good salad (Vilmorin). 



Trapa bicornis, Linn fil.* 



The Leng, Ling or Links of China. The nuts of this water-plant 

 are extensively brought to market in that country. The horns of the 

 fruit are blunt. The kernel, like that of the two following species, is 

 of an excellent taste. The plant is regularly cultivated in the lakes 

 and ponds of China. 



Trapa bispinosa, Roxburgh.* 



Middle and Southern Asia, where it is called " Singhara," extend- 

 ing to Ceylon and Japan ; found also in Africa as far south as the 

 Zambezi. The nuts are often worked for starch. They can be con- 

 verted into most palatable cakes or porridge, and may be stored for 

 food, even for several years. The produce is copious and quite 

 maintained by spontaneous dissemination. In some countries, for 

 instance in Cashmere, the nuts in a raw or cooked state form an im- 

 portant staple of food to the population. To this species probably 

 belong T. Cochin-Chinensis (Loureiro) and T. incisa (Siebold and 

 Zuccarini). 



Trapa natans, Linne".* 



The ordinary Waternut. Middle and Southern Europe, Middle 

 Asia, Northern and Central Africa. Recorded as an annual. T. 

 quadrispinosa (Roxburgh) from Sylhet, is a mere variety. 



