IN EXTKA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 143 



Flindersia Oxleyana, F. v. Mueller. 



The Yellow Wood of New South Wales and Queensland. Its wood 

 used for staves as well as that of F. Australia, Tarrietia argyro- 

 dendron, Stenocarpus salignus, Castanospermum Australe. Mr. 

 Hartmann mentions that F. Oxleyana attains a height of 150 feet, 

 and supplies one of the finest hardwoods for choice cabinet-work. 

 Other species occur there, among which F. Bennettiana is the best 

 for avenue purposes. 



Flueggea Japonica, 0. Richard. 



China and Japan. The mucilaginous tubers can be used for food 

 a remark which applies to many other as yet disregarded liliaceous 

 plants. 



Fceniculum offlcinale, Allioni. 



The Fennel. Mediterranean regions, particularly on limestone 

 soil. A perennial or biennal herb, of which two primary varieties 

 occur, the so-called sweet variety having fruits almost twice as 

 large as the other. The herb and fruits are in use as condiments 

 and the latter also for medicine. The fruits are rich in essential 

 oil, containing much anethol. 



Fourcroya Cubensis, Haworth. 



West India and continental tropical America. A smaller species 

 than the following, but equally utilised for fibre and impenetrable 

 hedges. F. flavo-viridis (Hooker), from Mexico, is still smaller. 



Fourcroya gigantea, Ventenat. 



Central America. With species of Yucca, Agave, Dracaena, 

 Cordyline, Phormium, Doryanthes, and this and a few other Four- 

 croyas, we have gigantic liliaceous plants available industrially for 

 fibre. Frost injures the leaves of this species. Development of 

 flower-stalk extremely rapid up to 30 feet high. Fibre often 3 

 feet long and of considerable tenacity. The fibre produced in 

 Mauritius by Messrs. Bourgignon and Fronchet proved stronger 

 than hemp and resisted decay in water. Mr. Boucard also testifies 

 to the excellence of the fibre, which he describes as long, silky, and 

 solid, particularly adapted for luxurious hammocks and for cordage. 



Fourcroya longseva, Karw. and Zucc. 



High mountains of Guatemala and Mexico, at an elevation of about 

 10,000 feet. One of the most gigantic and magnificent of all 

 liliaceous or amaryllideous plants, in volumen only surpassed by 

 Dracaena Draco, the Dragon-tree of the Canary Islands. This is 

 the only known high-stemmed species, the trunk attaining a height 



