48 



Ecballion Elaterium, Bichard. 



Mediterranean regions and Orient. The Squirting Cucumber. 

 An annual. The powerful purgative Elaterium is prepared 

 from the pulp of the fruit. Chemical principles : Elaterid, 

 Elaterin, Hydroelaterin. 



Ehrharta Diplax, F. v. Mueller. 



(Microlaena avenacea, J. Hooker.) 



New Zealand. This tall perennial grass is fond of wood' 

 lands and deserves introduction. It is likely to prove a rich 

 pasture-grass. A few other Australian species, particularly 

 of the section Tetrarrhena, are readily accessible to us, and 

 so indeed also the South African Ehrhartas, all adapted 

 for our clime, the majority perennial and several of 

 superior value. Ehrharta caudata, Munro, is indigenous in 

 Japan. 



Ehrharta Stipoides, Labillardiere. 



Extra-tropic Australia, also New Zealand. A perennial 

 grass, which keeps beautifully green all through the year. 

 For this reason its growth for pasturage should be 

 encouraged, particularly as it will live on poor soil. Mr. 

 W. H. Bacchus, of Bacchus -Marsh, considers it nearly as 

 valuable as Kangaroo- Grass, and in the cool season more 

 so. He finds it to bear over-stocking better than any other 

 native grass, and to maintain a close turf. It is however 

 not always copiously seeding. 



Eleusine Coracana, G-aertner. 



Southern Asia, east to Japan. Though annual, this grass is 

 worthy of cultivation on account of its height and nutri- 

 tiveness. The large grains can be used like Millet. 



Eleusine stricta, Eoxburgh. 



India. The increase of grain of this annual grass in rich 

 soil is at times five hundredfold. E. Tocusso, Fresenius, is 

 a valuable kind from Abyssinia, seemingly allied to E. 

 stricta. The Arabian and Himalaian E. flagellifera, Nees, 

 is perennial. Other species of Eleusine are deserving of 

 trial. 



