IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 



99 



Cyperus esculentus, Linne. 



South Europe, West Asia, various parts of Africa. Produces the 

 " Chufa" or Ground Almond, an edible root, which contains 27 per 

 cent, of starch, 17 per cent, of oil, and 12 per cent, of saccharine 

 substance ; other (French) analyses give 28 per cent, oil, 29 starch, 

 14 sugar, 7 gum, 14 cellulose. This plant does not spread like the 

 C. rotundus, and can be reared on sand-land, though in rich loose 

 soil the harvest is far more plentiful. The tubers, of which 100 to 

 150 can be obtained from each plant, are consumed either raw or 

 cooked. Hogs root them up for food. The oil surpasses in excel- 

 lence of taste all other oils used for culinary purposes. The tubers 

 are a fair substitute for coffee when properly roasted; the root 

 crop is available in from four to six months. The root of the 

 North American C. phymatodes (Muehlenberg) is also nutty. 



Cyperus Papyrus, Linne. 



The Nile Papyrus, wild in various regions of Africa. Attains a 

 height of 16 feet. Though no longer strictly an utilitarian plant, 

 as in ancient times, it could scarcely be passed on this occasion, as 

 it ought to become valuable in the horticultural trade. Its grand 

 aspect recommends it as very decorative for aquatic plantations. 



Cyperus proliferus, Linn6 fil. 



Canary Islands. The " Tagasaste." This tall herb is recommended 

 as a fodder plant in countries exposed to drought. 



Cyperus Syriacus, Parlatore. 



The Syrian or Sicilian Papyrus. This is the Papyrus plant usual 

 in garden cultivation. The plants in the Melbourne Botanic 

 Garden attain a height of 8 feet, but suffer somewhat from frost. 

 Other tall decorative Cyperi deserve introduction for instance, 

 C. giganteus, Rottboell, from West India and Guiana, these kinds 

 of plants being hardier than others from the tropics. 



Cyperus tegetum, Roxburgh. 



India, China and North Australia. This Galingale Rush might 

 be naturalised on river banks to obtain material for the superior 

 mats made of it in Bengal. The fresh stems are slit longitudinally 

 into three or four pieces, each of which curls round by exsiccation, 

 and can then be worked into durable and elegant mats. In China 

 it is cultivated like rice, but in brackish ground only, where 

 narrow channels will allow the water to flow in and out with the 

 rising and receding tide (Hance and Dilthey). 



Cyperus textilis, Thunberg. (Cyperus vaginatus, R. Brown.) 



Widely dispersed over the Australian continent, also occurring in 

 Southern Africa. It is restricted to swampy localities, and thus is 



