

Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 55 



Asparagrus albus, Linne. 



Countries around the Mediterrrean Sea, also in the Canary- 

 Islands. Serves for garden-hedges. 



Asparag-us laricinus, Burchell. 



South-Africa. Dr. Pappe observes of this shrubby species, that 

 with some other kinds of that country it produces shoots of excel- 

 lent tenderness and aromatic taste. 



Asparag-us ofticinalis, Linne.* 



Europe, North- Africa, West- Asia. The well-known Asparagus- 

 plant, which, if naturalized on any coast, would aid in binding the 

 sand. Hardy in Norway to lat. 64 12' [Schuebeler]. The plant 

 contains Vanillin, the foliage inosit-sugar, the shoots yield aspar- 

 agin. Sea-weeds are a good additional material for forcing aspar- 

 agus. Can for culinary purposes even be grown in sub-tropical 

 climes. The seeds will keep five years or even longer. Important 

 as a food to promote renal secretions, also against dropsy, vesical 

 torpidity and even various cutaneous affections. 



Asparagus tenuifolius, Lamarck. 



South-Europe and South-Western Asia. Foliage in great demand 

 for bouquets on account of its almost transparent " quivering 

 sprays," which keep fresh for days. 



Asperula odorata, Linne. 



The " Woodruff." Europe, Western and Northern Asia, Northern 

 Africa, there as in Southern Europe only on mountains, always a 

 forest-plant. Indigenous in Norway to lat. 66 59' [Schuebeler]. 

 A perennial herb with highly fragrant flowers ; it deserves natural- 

 isation in forests ; it contains much cumarin in its flowers, and 

 serves in Germany for preparing the " Maitrank." Therapeutically 

 the plant belongs to the Secretatories, and is a domestic remedy in 

 hydropic and some other affections. 



Aspidosperma Quebracho, Grisebach. 



Argentina. Shrub or tree, even tall, with wood fit for xylo- 

 graphy. The bitter bark is astringent and febrifugal [Lorentz], 

 being almost as rich in tannin as that of Piptadenia Cebil. The 

 leaves even contain up to 27J per cent. ; both have the advantage 

 of producing an almost colorless leather [Sievert]. F. Jean states, 

 that even the Quebracho-wood contains 14 to 16 per cent, of tannic 

 and 2 to 3 per cent, of gallic acid. 



Astartea fascicularis, De Candolle. 



South-Western Australia. A tall shrub or small tree, with a 

 predilection for swampy ground, rather remarkable for quick 

 growth, and evidently destined to take its place in antimalarian 

 plantations. The foliage is locally used for tea. 



