Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 67 



Sells jaculifolia, Salisbury. (Cunninghamia Sinensis, R. Brown.) 



Southern China. A tree, attaining 40 feet in height. Though too 

 slow for timber-growth, it should not be passed in this work, as its 

 Araucaria-like habits entitles it to a place in any arboretum, which 

 is not subject to severe frost ; it proved hardy at Arran [Rev. D. 

 Landsborough]. The tree furnishes resin ; the timber serves build- 

 ing purposes well. 



Benincasa cerlfera, Savi. 



India, Philippines, China, Japan, perhaps also North-Eastern 

 Australia and Polynesia. This annual plant produces a large 

 edible gourd, which in an unripe state forms part of the composition 

 of many kinds of curry. Can also be used like pumpkins. Mrs. 

 Soutter recommends this fruit especially for jam. Seeds will keep 

 for several years. 



Berberis Asiatica. Koxburgh 



Himalaya. A Berberry-shrub. Hardy in Christiania [Schue- 

 belerj. One of the best among numerous species with edible 

 berries. Among these may particularly be mentioned B. Lycium 

 (Boyle) and B. aristata (De Candolle), which also yield valuable 

 yellow dye-wood [Dr. Rosenthal]. All kinds of Berberry-shrubs 

 must be kept away from cereal fields, as they might become the 

 seat of the Aecidium-state of one of the principal rust-fungs, Puc- 

 cinia graminis. An elaborate article on Berberine has been 

 furnished by Dr. W. H. Perkin in the Journal of the Chemical 

 Society, December, 1890. 



Berberis buxifolia, Lamarck. 



From Magelhaen's Straits to Chili. This bush, according to Dr. 

 Philippi, is the best among the South-American species for berries, 

 which are comparatively large, black, hardly acid, but slightly 

 astringent. In Valdivia and Chiloe they are frequently consumed. 



Berberis Darwinii, Hooker. 



Chiloe and South-Chili. Considered one of the most handsome of 

 shrubs for garden-hedges. Hardy in England, also up to Chris- 

 tiania. Several other evergreen Berberry-shrubs serve the same 

 purpose. 



Berber-is Japonica, E. Brown. 



Japan. Bears some frost. The acidulous berries are used for 

 jellies, also for coloring confectionery [Dr. K. Mueller]. 



Berberis Nepalensis, Sprengel. 



Himalayas, at elevations between 4,000 and 8,000 feet. Hardy 

 to lat. 59 55 1 in Norway [SchuebelerJ. The fruit of this evergreen 

 species is edible. The European B. vulgaris L. is excluded here as 

 harboring the Aecidium-state of the Puccinia-"Rust." 



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