IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 43 



Bactris Gasipaes, Huuiboldt. (Guilielma speciosa, Mart.) 



The Peach-Palm of the Amazon River, ascending to the warm tem- 

 perate regions of the Andes. Stems clustered, attaining a height 

 of 40 feet. Dr. Spruce describes the large bunches of fruits as pos- 

 sessing a thick, firm, and mealy pericarp, which when cooked has a 

 flavour between potato and chestnut, but superior to either. 



Bacularia Arfakiana, Beccari. 



In Arancaria forests of New Guinea up to 6,000 feet. A reed-like 

 palm. 



Bacularia monostachya, F. v. Mueller. (Areca monostachya, 



Martius.) 



Eastern Australia, extending to extra-tropical latitudes. One of 

 the best among small Palms for table decoration. The stems sought 

 for walking-sticks. 



Baloghia lucida, Eiidlicher. (Codiceum lucidum, J. M.) 



East Australia. A middle-sized tree. The sap from the vuinerated 

 trunk forms, without any admixture, a beautiful red indelible 

 pigment. 



Balsamodendron Ehrenbergi, Berg. 



Deserts of Arabia. This tree yields the Myrrha-resin, but perhaps 

 B. Myrrha (Nees) and some other species may produce the same 

 substance. Professor Oliver unites this with B. Opobalsamum. 



Balsamodendron Mukul, Hooker. 



Scinde and Beluchistan. Yields the Bdellium-resin. 



Balsamodendron Opobalsamum, Kunth. (B. Gileademe, Kunth.) 



Arabia, Abyssinia and Nubia. This species furnishes Mekka or 

 Gilead Balsam. B. Capense (Sonder) is a closely allied species 

 from Extra-tropical South Africa. Many other Balsam shrubs 

 deserve introduction. 



Bambusa arundinacea, Roxburgh.* 



The Thorny Bamboo of India. It likes rich, moist soil, and delights 

 on river-banks. It is of less height than Bambusa vulgaris ; it also 

 sends up from the root numerous stems, but with bending branches, 

 thorny at the joints. According to Kurz it will thrive in a climate 

 too dry for B. Tulda and B. vulgaris. The seeds of this and some 

 other Bamboos are useful as food for fowls. Whenever seeds of any 

 Bamboos can be obtained fresh and disseminated soon, the large 

 masses of foreign Bamboos could easily be raised in adapted forest- 

 ground ; Bamboo-seeds moreover, like Palm-seeds, ought to become 

 a valuable article of commercial export for horticultural purposes. 



