WELWITSCHIA OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 437 



for making candles for tlie Eoman Catholic clmrches, and forms 

 an article of trade. 



Wax Tree (Lijustrum luciclmn), a small tree or handsome 

 shrub of the Olive family (Oleacese), hardy in this country. It 

 is a native of China. An insect that deposits a wax is said to 

 feed on it. This is well known to be the case with L. ihota, a 

 native of Japan, which is cultivated for that purpose. 



Wax Tree, Japanese {Rhus succedanea), an evergreen tree of 

 the Cashew N"ut family (Anacardiaceoe), with shining winged 

 leaves, native of Japan, having bunches of fruit like small 

 grapes, which by pressure yield a wax analogous to beeswax ; 

 it is sometimes imported into this country, and is used in 

 making candles and night lights. The plant has been long 

 known *in our botanic gardens, but is not sufficiently hardy to 

 stand the cold of this climate. 



¥/ax-work Shrub. {Sec Staff" Tree.) 



Weld {Reseda Luteola), an erect single -stemmed annual 

 of the Mignonette family (Eesedaceae), attaining a height of 2 or 

 3 feet, native of this country, at one time much cultivated for 

 the dye afforded by it, which, according to the different mordants 

 employed, was either green, yellow, or blue ; it is chiefly used 

 in colouring paperhangings. The colour called Dutch pink is 

 also obtained from it. 



Welwitschia ( WelioitscMa mirahilis). — This remarkable 

 plant was first discovered by Dr. Welwitsch growing in stony sandy 

 plains on the plateau of Benguela in Africa, and in similar situa- 

 tions by other travellers in Damaraland. It consists of a hard 

 woody obconical mass in old plants, not rising more than a foot 

 above the ground, of nearly a circular form, and according to age 

 varying in diameter from a few inches to 5 or 6 feet, having a long 

 tapering taproot penetrating deeply into the earth. Its surface 

 is nearly flat, rough, and cracked, and depressed towards the 

 centre, seemingly as it were divided in two parts by a furrow. 

 Eound the margin are yearly produced several forked flower-stalks 

 rising about a foot in height, bearing round or four-sided cones 

 about an inch or more in diameter at the base. It has two leaves, 



