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Scorzonera Hispanica, L.* 



Middle and South Europe, Orient. The perennial root of 

 this yellow-flowered herb furnishes not only a wholesome 

 and palatable food, but also serves as a therapeutic remedy 

 much like Dandelion. Long boiling destroys its medicinal 

 value. Some other kinds of Scorzonera may perhaps be 

 drawn into similar use, there being many Asiatic species. 



Scorzonera tuberosa, Pallas. 



At the Wolga and in Syria. Also this species yields an 

 edible root, and so perhaps the Chinese S. albicaulis, Bunge> 

 the Persian Sc. Scowitzii, Cand., the North African Sc. 

 undulata, Vahl., the G-reek Sc. ramosa, Sibth., the Russian 

 Sc. Astrachanica, Cand., the Turkish Sc. semicana, Cand., the 

 Iberian Sc. lanata, Bieberst. At all events careful culture 

 may render them valuable esculents. 



Sebaea ovata, B. Brown. 



Extra-tropic Australia and New Zealand. This neat little 

 annual herb can be utilized for its bitter tonic principle 

 (Gentian-bitter),, S. albidiflora, F. v. M., is an allied species 

 from somewhat saline ground. These plants disseminate 

 themselves most readily. 



Secale cereale, L.* 



The Rye. Orient, but perhaps wild only in the country 

 between the Caspian and Black Seas. Mentioned here as 

 the hardiest of all grain-plants for our highest alpine regions. 

 There are annual and biennial varieties, while a few allied 

 species, hitherto not generally used for fodder or cereal 

 culture, are perennial. The Eye, though not so nutritious 

 as wheat, furnishes a most wholesome well-flavored bread, 

 which keeps for many days, and is most extensively used in 

 Middle and North Europe and Asia. This grain moreover 

 can be reared in poor soil and cold climates, where Wheat 

 will no longer thrive. In produce of .grain Bye is not inferior 

 to Wheat in colder countries, while the y ield of straw is 

 larger, and the culture less exhaustive. It is a hardy cereal, 

 not readily subject to disease, and can be grown on some 

 kinds of peaty or sandy or moory ground. The sowing 



