IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 219 



Oxalis esculenta, Otto and Dietrich. 



Spurious aracacha. Mexico, there with O. tetraphylla (Cavanilles^ 

 0. Deppei (Loddiges), O. violacea (Linne), and several others, 

 producing tuberous, starchy, wholesome roots ; the first-mentioned 

 gives the largest yield. Propogated by sub-division of the root 

 stock. It requires a deep, rich, moist soil. As similarly useful 

 may be mentioned among many others, 0. crenata (Jacquin) from 

 Chili and O. enneaphylla (Cavanilles) from the Falkland Islands 

 and Magelhaen's Straits. 



Oxytenanthera Thwaitesii, Munro. 



Ceylon, on mountains from 4,000 to 6,000 feet high. A dwarf 

 but handsome bamboo, reaching only a height of 12 feet. 



Oxytropis pilosa, Candolle. (Astragalus pilosus, Linne.) 



Europe, West Asia. This perennial plant furnishes fair pasture 

 herbage ; it is deep-rooted, content with almost absolute sand ; the 

 numerous other species twenty-four alone enumerated as Oriental 

 by Boissier should be tested. All these plants might be classed as 

 Astragals. They are mostly content with poor soil. 



Pachyma Cocos, Fries. 



North America and East Asia. The hard Tuckahoe Truffle. 



Pachyma Hoelen, Fries. 



China. This large Truffle occurs particularly in the province of 

 Souchong. Flavour most agreeable. 



Pachyrrhizus angulatus, Richard. 



From Central America, rendered spontaneous in many tropical 

 countries. A climber, the horizontal starchy roots of which attain 

 a length of 8 feet and a thickness of many inches. Dr. Peckolt 

 records tubers of seventy pounds weight. They keep in dry ground 

 for five years, but such are then available only for starch, whereas 

 annual tubers are the most palatable and yield 6 -7 per cent, starch. 

 It requires rich soil. The root is edible, though inferior to Yam. 

 From the stems a tough fibre is obtained. The plant proved hardy 

 at Sydney. 



Paliurus ramosissimus, Poiret. (P. Aubletia, Schultes.) 



China and Japan. A thorny tree, which could be utilized for 

 hedging. 



Paliurus Spina Christi, Miller. (P. aculeatus, Lambert.) 



The Christ Thorn. From the Mediterranean Sea to Nepaul. A 

 deciduous bush or finally tree, which can be trimmed into hedges. 



