110 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



Dirca palustris, Linne. 



North America. An ornamental forest-shrub, the tough bark of 

 which is serviceable for straps and whipcords. 



Distichlis maritima, Rafinesque. (Festuca distichophylla, J. Hooker). 



North and South America, Extra-tropical Australia. This dwarf 

 Creeping Grass is of great value for binding soil, forming rough 

 lawns, edging garden-plots in arid places, and covering coast-sand. 



Dolichos Lablab, Linne. 



Warmer parts of Africa ; probably thence spread widely through 

 the tropics. An annual herb, sometimes lasting through several 

 years. The young pods, as well as the ripe seeds, available for 

 culinary use, but not of all varieties. It delights in rice soil, and 

 ripens in hot countries within three months ; its yield is about 

 forty-fold, according to Roxburgh. The whole plant forms excellent 

 stable feed for cattle. 



Dolichos uniflorus, Lamarck. 



Tropical and Sub-tropical Africa and Asia. An annual herb, the 

 Horse-Gram of South India, where it is extensively grown. Colonel 

 Sykes got over 300 seeds from a moderate-sized plant. Dr. Stewart 

 saw it cultivated up to 8,000 feet. Content with poor soils ; well 

 adapted for stable pulse. 



Dorema Ammoniacum, Don. 



Persia, on mountains up to 4,000 feet. A tall perennial herb, 

 yielding the gum-resin Ammoniacum, which might be obtained from 

 plants to be introduced into our snowy montains. 



Dracaena Draco, Linne". 



The Dragon-blood Tree of the Canary Islands. An imposing feature 

 in seenic horticulture, with D. schizantha (Baker) of eastern tropical 

 Africa ; it yields Dragon-blood resin, j 



Dracocephalum Moldavica, Linne. 



North and Middle Asia. An annual showy scent-herb. 



Drimys Winteri, R. and G. Forster. 



Extra-tropical South America. The Canelo of Chili, sacred under 

 the name of Boighe to the original inhabitants. Attains in river- 

 valleys a height of 60 feet. The wood never attacked by insects 

 (Dr. Philippi) ; thus the Australian species may be equally valuable. 



