IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 313 



form a considerable portion of the vegetable food on which the 

 aboriginal tribes of that part of the globe extensively live. It is a 

 pretty plant and might be naturalised on moist meadows. 



S cilia Fraseri, A. Gray. 



The Quamash of the Eastern States of North America. Most 

 prolific in the production of its bulbs, which taste like Potatoes. 



Scorzonera crocifolia, Sibthorp.. 



Greece. A perennial herb ; the leaves, according to Dr. Heldreich, 

 used there for a favourite salad and spinach. 



Scorzonera deliciosa, Guasson.* 



Sicily. One of the purple-flowered species ; equal, if not superior, 

 in its culinary use to the allied Salsify. 



Scorzonera Hispanica, Linne.* 



Middle, and South Europe, Orient. The perennial root of this 

 yellow-flowered herb furnishes not only a wholesome and palatable 

 food, but also serves as a therapeutic remedy much like dandelion. 

 Long boiling destroys its medicinal value. Some other kinds of 

 Scorzonera may perhaps be drawn into similar use, there being 

 many Asiatic species. 



Scorzonera tuber osa, Pallas. 



On the Volga and in Syria. This species also yields an edible 

 root, and so perhaps the Chinese Sc. albicaulis (Bunge), the Persian 

 Sc. Scowitzii (Cand.), the North African Sc. undulata (Yahl.), the 

 Greek Sc. ramosa (Sibth.), the Russian Sc. Astrachanica (Cand.), 

 the Turkish Sc. semicana (Cand.), the Iberian Sc. lanata (Bie- 

 berst.). At all events, careful culture may render them valuable 

 esculents. 



Scutia Indica, Brogniart. 



South Asia. This, on Dr. Gleghorn's recommendation, might be 

 utilised as a thorny hedge-shrub. 



Sebsea ovata, R, Brown. 



Extra-tropical Australia and New Zealand. This neat little annual 

 herb can be utilised for its bitter tonic principle (Gentian-bitter). 

 S. albidiflora (F. v. M.) is an allied species from somewhat saline 

 ground. These plants disseminate themselves most readily, but are 

 unacceptable to stock. 



Secale cereale, Linn.* 



The Rye. Orient, but perhaps wild only in the country between 

 the Caspian and Black Seas. Mentioned here as the hardiest of all 



