IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 101 



Dacrydium Kirkii, F. v. Mueller. 



New Zealand. The "Manoao." A pyramidal tree, attaining 80 

 feet in height ; stem a diameter of 4 feet. Timber of a reddish 

 colour and extreme durability (Professor Kirk). Bears seeds 

 abundantly. 



Dactylis ceespitosa, Forster. (Poo, Forsteri, Steudel.) 



Fuegia, Falkland's Island, South Patagonia. The Tussock Grass. 

 Introduced by Sir Joseph. Hooker into the Hebrides, and by Mr. 

 Traill into the Orkney Islands. Delights, according to Mr. Ingram, 

 in deep, boggy, and mossy land, even when exposed to sea-spray. 

 Cultivated plants might be dressed with some salt. Thrives in cold 

 countries near the sea in pure sand, at the edge of peat bogs. It 

 would likely prosper in our Alpine moors. It is perennial, and 

 reaches to a height of 9 feet. It is very nutritious, and much 

 sought by herds. The base of stem is nutty and edible. 



Dactylis glomerata, Linne.* 



Europe, North Africa, North and Middle Asia, The Cock's-foot 

 Grass, perennial. One of the best of tall pasture grasses, adapted as 

 well for dry as moist soil, thus even available for wet clays. It will live 

 under the shade of trees in forests ; adapted also for coast sands. 

 Its yield of fodder is rich and continuous, but its stems are hard. 

 It is already largely cultivated, and has become naturalised. It is 

 generally liked by cattle, unless when by understocking or neglect 

 it has been allowed to become rank. Langethal observes : "What 

 the Timothy Grass is for the more dry" sandy ground, that is the 

 Cock's-foot Grass for more binding soil, and no other (European) 

 grass can be compared to it for copiousness of yield, particularly if 

 the soil contains a fair quantity of lime. It grows quickly again 

 after the first cutting, and comes early on in the season. The nutri- 

 tive power of this grass is of the first-class." The chemical analysis 

 made very late in spring gave the following results : Albumen 1 -87, 

 gluten 7-11, starch 1 -05, gum 4 47, sugar 319 per cent. (Yon Mueller 

 and Hummel. 



Dactylis litoralis, Willdenow. (Poa litoralis, Gouan.) 



From the Mediterranean countries to Siberia. This stoloniferous 

 grass can be utilised for binding coast-sands ; but it is of greater 

 importance still in sustaining a Kermes insect (Porphyrophora 

 Hamelii), which produces a beautiful purple dye (Simmonds). 



Dalbergia miscolobium, Bentham. 



Southern Brazil. This tree supplies a portion of the Jacaranda 

 wood (Tschudi). 



