IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 19 



valuable in silk and wool factories. Saponin also occurs in Xylia 

 dolabriformis of South Asia. In Australia found better still than the 

 Broom-bush for shelter of new forest plantations in open sand-lands. 



Albizzia Saman, F. v. Mueller. (Pithecolobium Saman, Bentham.) 



Mexico. A lofty tree, particularly valuable for wet saline country. 

 The pulpy pods are edible. 



Albizzia Saman, F. v. Mueller. 



The Rain-tree or Guango, extending from Mexico to Brazil and 

 Peru. It attains a height of 70 feet ; trunk, 6 feet in diameter, 

 the colossal branches expanding to 130 feet, and is of quick growth. 

 In outline not unlike an oak ; it forms a magnificent feature in a 

 landscape. It thrives in the dry salt-pond districts of the "West 

 Indies, and likes the vicinity of the sea. Bain and dew fall through 

 its foliage, Avhich is shut up at night, thus allowing grass to 

 grow underneath. It thrives best where the rainfall fluctuates 

 between 30 and 60 inches a year. One of the best trees in mild 

 climes for roadside shade-lines. The wood is hard and ornamental, 

 but the principal utility of the tree lies in its pulpy pods, which 

 are produced in great abundance, and constitute a very fattening 

 fodder for all kinds of pastoral animals, which eat them with 

 relish (Jenman, J. H. Stephens.) 



Albizzia stipulata, Bentham. 



South Asia to the Himalayas and China. An umbrageous tree of 

 easy culture. 



Alchemilla vulgaris, Linne. 



Europe, West Asia, Arctic North America, Alpine Australia. This 

 perennial herb is important for moist dairy-pastures. The same 

 can be said of other congeners ; for instance, A. alpina L., from 

 the coldest parts of Europe, North Asia and North America ; A. 

 Capensis (Thunberg) and A. elongata (Ecklon and Zeyher) of South 

 Africa, some Abyssinian species, as well as A. pinnata (Ruiz and 

 Pavon) and other congeners of the Andes. 



Aletris farinosa, Linne. 



The Colic-Root of the woodlands of North America. This pretty 

 herb is of extreme bitterness, and can be medicinally administered 

 as a tonic. 



Aleurites cordata, R. Brown. 



From Japan to Nepal, also in Bourbon. This tree for its beauty 

 and durable wood deserves cultivation in our plantations in humid 

 districts. The oil of the seeds serves as varnish. Perhaps in 

 localities free of frost it would be of sufficiently quick growth. 



