6 



Alkanna tinctoria, Tausch. 



On sandy places around the Mediterranean Sea. It yields 

 the Alkanna root, used for dyeing oleaginous and other sub- 

 stances. It might be naturalized. 



Allium Schcenoprasum, L. 



The Chives. Europe, Northern Asia and North America. 

 Available for salads and condiments. This species of Allium 

 seems not yet so generally adopted in our culinary cultiva- 

 tion as Allium Ascalonicum (the Shallot), A. Cepa (the 

 ordinary Onion), A. fistulosum (the Welsh Onion), A. 

 Porrum (the Leek), or A. sativum (the Grarlick). A. Scoro- 

 doprasum, or the Sand Leek of Europe and North Africa, 

 resembles both Grarlick and Shallot. 



Aloe ferox, Mill. 



South Africa. This species yields the best Cape Aloe, as 

 observed by Dr. Pappe. The simply inspissated juice of the 

 leaves of the various species of this genus constitutes the 

 Aloe drug. It is best obtained by using neither heat nor 

 pressure for extracting the sap. By re-dissolving the 

 aqueous part in cold water, and reducing the liquid through 

 boiling to dryness, the Extract of Aloes is prepared. All 

 species are highly valuable in our Colony, where they are 

 hardy, and can be used, irrespective of their medicinal 

 importance, to beautify any rocky or otherwise arid spot. 



Aloe linguiformis, Miller. 



South Africa. According to Thunberg, from this species 

 the purest gum-resin is obtained. 



Aloe plicatilis, Mill. 



South Africa. The drug of this species acts milder than 

 that of A. ferox. 



Aloe purpurascens, Haworth. 



South Africa. Again one of the plants, which furnishes the 

 Cape Aloe of commerce. 



Aloe socotrina, L,. 



Hills of the Island of Socotra. Also cultivated in Barbadoes 

 and elsewhere, thus yielding the Socotrin Aloe. 



