98 



seasons here, as a rule, are favorable for collecting Opium 

 and thus this culture is here rendered less precarious than 

 in many other countries. Our Opium has proved as good 

 as the best Smyrna kinds. The petals are dried for packing 

 the Opium, The main value of Opium depends on its con- 

 tents of Morphia, for which the genus Papaver, as far as 

 hitherto known, remains the sole source. But not less than 

 eleven Alkaloids have been revealed in Opium by the pro- 

 gressive strides of organic chemistry : Codein, Metamorphin, 

 Morphia or Morphin, Narcein, Narcotin, Opianin, Papaverin, 

 Porphyroxin, Pseudo-rnorphin and Thebain. It contains 

 besides an indifferent bitter principle : Meconin and 

 Meconic Acid ( Fide " Wittstein's Chemische Analyse von 

 Pflauzentheilen.") Various species of Papaver produce 

 more or less Opium and Morphia. 



Parinarium Nonda, F. v. Mueller. 



The Nonda-tree of North-east Australia. It may prove 

 hardy in East Gripps Land, and may live perhaps in the dry 

 and hot air of our deserts, where it deserves trial- culture 

 for the sake of its edible mealy plum-like fruit. A few 

 other species with esculent drupes occur in different tropical 

 countries. 



Parkinsonia aculeata, L. 



From California to Monte Video. A thorny shrub, clearly 

 adapted for the warmer parts of Victoria, where it might be 

 utilized with the following plant for evergreen hedges. The 

 flowers are handsome. 



Parkinsonia Africana, Sender. 



South Africa. A tall bush. A third species, P. micropkylla, 

 Torr., occurs on the Colorado. 



Paspalum distichum, Burm. 



From India to South-eastern Australia. A creeping swamp- 

 grass, forming extensive cushions. It keeps beautifully 

 green throughout the year, affords a sufficiently tender 

 blade for feed, and is exqusitely adapted to cover silt or 

 bare slopes on banks of ponds or rivers. 



