IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 55 



Butomus umbellatus, Linne. 



The Flowering Rush. Europe, North and Middle Asia. This 

 elegant perennial water-plant is mentioned here more for its value 

 in embellishing our lakes and water-courses than for the sake of 

 its roots. The latter, when roasted, are edible. The plant would 

 live in our sub-alpine rivulets. 



Buxus sempervirens, Linne.* 



The Turkey Box-tree. - England, South Europe, North Africa, 

 South-West Asia extending to Japan. This slow-growing tree 

 should timely be planted, to provide the indispensable box-wood for 

 wood-engravers and musical instrument makers, as yet no good 

 substitute for it having been discovered j it is also employed for 

 shuttles, rollers, and various other select implements, clarionets, 

 flutes, flageolets. The box-tree needs calcareous soil for its best 

 development. Among allied species B. Balearica attains a height 

 of 80 feet. Other congeners are B. subcolumnaris, B. Cubana, B. 

 Purdieana, B. citrifolia, B. acuminata, B. laevigata, B. Vahlii, B. 

 gonoclada, B. retusa, B. glomerata, B. Wrightii, all from West 

 India ; further, B. Madagascarica, B. longifolia from Turkey, B. 

 Wallichiana from the Himalayas, and B. microphylla from Japan ; 

 but neither of any of these, nor of the various species of the allied 

 Indian genus Sarcococca, nor of several species of the Andine genus 

 Styloceras, does it appear to be known what relation their wood 

 may hold to that of the true Box-tree, and whether they are more 

 rapid in growth. 



Buxus microphylla, Lieb. and Zucc. 



Japan. There used for the best of wood-engravings, and turnery ; 

 considered as good as ordinary box-wood. Native name, Tsougne 

 (E. Dupont). 



Caesalpinia Bonduc, Roxburgh. (Guilandina Bonduc, Linne). 



Widely dispersed through the intertropical regions of both hemi- 

 spheres with G. Bonducella, L. Both would be well adapted for 

 hedges in the warmer part of the temperate zone. 



Caesalpinia brevifolia, Bentham. (Balsamocarpon brevifolium, Clos.) 



Chili, the "Algoborillo." The pods of this shrub are extraordinarily 

 rich in tannic acid, containing up to 80 per cent., and hence 

 valuable for tanneries (Philippi). Godeffroy found in the husks 

 68 J per cent, tannic acid. The process of tanning is accomplished 

 in one-third of the time required for leather from oak-bark j 

 especially valuable as giving a bloom to the leather. 



