Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 65 



Bambusa Senaensis, Franchet and Savatier. 



Japan. A tall and hardy species, distinguished from all other 

 Japanese Bambusaceae by its large leaves. Young Bamboo-shoots 

 (probably of several species) constitute part of the nourishment of 

 all classes in Japan [Dupont]. 



Bambusa spinosa, Roxburgh.* 



Bengal. A Bamboo, attaining 100 feet in height. The central 

 cavity of the canes is of less diameter than in most other species ; 

 thus the strength for many technic purposes is increased. 



Bambusa vulgraris, Wendland.* 



The large unarmed Bamboo of Insular India. Height to 70 

 feet ; the stems may attain a length even of 40 feet in one season, 

 though the growth is slower in cooler climes. It has proved to 

 be capable of resisting occasional night-frosts. It is the best for 

 building bamboo-houses. Immersion in water for some time renders 

 the cane still firmer. To the series of large thornless bamboos 

 belong also Bambusa Tulda and Bambusa Balcooa of India, and 

 Bambusa Thouarsii from Madagascar and Bourbon. These Bam- 

 boos are much used for various kinds of furniture, mats, implements 

 and other articles. Besides these, Kurz enumerates as among the 

 best Asiatic Bamboos for building' purposes : Gigantochloa aspera, 

 G. maxima, G. attar ; while Teysmann notes G. apus for the same 

 purpose. Kurz recommends further, Bambusa arundinacea, B. 

 Balcooa, B. Brandisii, B. polymorpha, Dendrocalamus Hamiltoni 

 and Schizostachyum Bluniei. In the Moluccas, according to Costa, 

 Gigantochloa maxima or an allied species produces stems thick 

 enough to serve when slit into halves for canoes. Bamboos are 

 utilized for masts and spars of small vessels. Bambusa Balcooa 

 was found by Walwich to grow 12 feet in 23 days. Bambusa 

 Tulda, according to Roxburgh, has grown at first at the rate of 

 from 20 to 70 feet in a month. Fortune noticed the growth of 

 several Chinese Bamboos to be two to two and a half feet a day. 

 There are many other kinds of Bamboo eligible among the species 

 from China, Japan, India, tropical America and perhaps tropical 

 Africa. Two occur in Arnhem's Land, and two at least in North- 

 Queensland. New Guinea is sure to furnish also additional kinds 

 of technical importance or eminent horticultural value. Indeed 

 one species forms a belt just below the sub-alpine zone [Sir W. 

 McGregor]. If the summit of a young Bamboo within the last 

 sheath is slit, a simply forked growth may be obtained for orna- 

 mental purposes. 



Baptisia tinctoria, K. Brown. 



The "Wild Indigo" of Canada and the Eastern United States. 

 A perennial herb. It furnishes a fair pigment, when treated like 

 the best Indigoferas ; also used as an antiseptic in medicine. 



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