158 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Diposis Bulbocastanum, De Oandolle. 



Chili. The tubers of this perennial herb are edible. 



Dipsacus fullonum, Linne. 



Fuller's Teasel. Middle Asia. A tall biennial herb. The thorny 

 fruit-heads are used for fulling in cloth-factories. The import into 

 England during one of the latter years was valued at 5,000. The 

 plant is most easily reared. The use of these Teasels has not yet 

 been superseded by any adequate machinery. The young leaves 

 can be used as food for silkworms [Thorburn]. The flowers are 

 rich in nectar for honey [A. J. Cook], which is of excellent quality 

 [Quinby]. 



Dirca palustris, Linne. 



Eastern States of North-America, extending to Canada. An 

 ornamental forest-shrub, the tough bark of which is serviceable for 

 straps and whipcords. 



Distichlis maritima, Kafinesque. (Festuca distichophylla, J. Hooker.) 



North- and South- America, extra-tropical Australia. This dwarf 

 creeping grass is of great value for binding soil in arid places, 

 forming rough lawns, edging garden-plots and covering coast-sand. 



Dolichos biflorus, Linne* 



Tropical and sub-tropical Asia, Africa and Australia. An 

 annual herb, the Horse- Gram of South-India, where it is extensively 

 grown. Colonel Sykes got over 300 seeds from a moderate-sized 

 plant. Dr. Stewart saw it cultivated up to 8,000 feet. Content 

 with poor soils. Thrives in very hot weather, with a minimum 

 rainfall. Well adapted for stable-pulse and also useful for fodder 

 and as green manure [Dr. G. Watt]. D. uniflorus (Lamarck) 

 seems a variety. 



Dolichos gribbosus, Thunberg. 



South- Africa. This woody climber is one of the most eligible 

 for covering rustic buildings with a close and almost ever-flowering 

 vegetation. 



Dolichos Iiablab, 



India, probably from thence only spread widely through the 

 tropics. An annual herb, sometimes lasting through several years, 

 cultivated up to 7,000 feet in the Himalayas ; ripening its fruit at 

 Port Phillip. The young pods, as well as the ripe seeds, of several 

 varieties available for culinary use, it delights in rich soil, and 

 ripens in hot countries within three months ; its yield is about 

 forty -fold, according to Roxburgh. At Port Darwin its produce 

 has been 180-fold [M. Holtze]. The whole plant forms excellent 

 stable-feed for cattle. 



