Naturalisation in Extra- Tropical Countries. 73 



feet above the ground ; sometimes even stems have been measured 

 having a circumference of 37 feet. Leaves occur as much as 12 feet 

 across ; they serve for the manufacture of baskets, mats, ropes and 

 sieves. The edible portion of the fruit is yellow, stringy, of a 

 fruity flavor. The sap, obtained from incisions in the stem under 

 the leaves, yields a kind of palm-wine. In its natural home the 

 tree always denotes water [Colonel Grant]. Sir W. Hooker admits 

 only one species, and regards Africa solely as its home. Hardier 

 than Cocos nucifera. 



Borassus flabelliformis, Linne. 



The " Palmyra.", From the Persian Gulf to India, extending to 

 30 north. This noble palm attains a height of 100 feet. The 

 pulp of the fruit serves as food. Enormous masses of sugar and 

 toddy are produced in India from the sap, which flows from incisions 

 of the stalk of the unexpanded flowers. This palm, wherever 

 hardy, should be reared for scenic plantations. It does well to the 

 tropic of Capricorn in East- Australia [Edgar], Assumed to reach, 

 like the Date-Palm, an age of more than 200 years. Many other 

 palms are notable for longevity ; thus Euterpe oleracea has been 

 calculated to attain 130 years ; Cocos oleracea, 650 years ; Cocos 

 nucifera, 330 years, according to the number of their stem-rings 

 [Langethal], of which however perhaps more than one are formed 

 in a year. 



Boronia meg-astig-ma, Nees. 



In Western Australia, on margins of swamps. This remarkable 

 bush is recorded here as an emblem of mourning, its externally 

 blackish flowers rendering it especially eligible for graves. Indus- 

 trially it interests us on account of its very fragrant blossoms, for 

 the sake of which this bush well deserves to be cultivated. The 

 perfume could doubtless be extracted and isolated, particularly Ipy 

 absorbents in vacuum. Individual plants of this Boronia will 

 endure in a cultivated state for very many years. B. heterophylla 

 (F. v. M.) from King George's Sound is of similar but not quite so 



Borrag-o officinalis, Linne. 



Southern Europe, Orient. An annual herb, rich in nitrate of 

 potassium, occasionally used for medicinal purposes or as an admix- 

 ture to salad. Readily disseminating' itself ; not to be overlooked 

 as a honey-plant. 



Boswellia papyritera, Hochstetter. 



Morocco, Nubia and Abyssinia, forming entire forests about 

 Bertat on the Atlas. This tree exudes a kind of Olibanum-resin, 

 and represents apparently one of the hardiest species of this or 

 allied genera. 



