Naturalisation in Extra- Tropical Countries. 217 



Gladiolus edulis, Burchell. 



Interior of South- Africa, The bulb-like roots are edible, and 

 taste like chestnuts when roasted. 



Crlaucium luteum, Scopoli. 



Western and Southern Europe, Northern Africa and Western 

 Asia. This fast-spreading biennial herb, now also naturalized 

 on some of the Australian coasts, does good service in aiding to 

 subdue drift-sand. The plant has also some medicinal value. 



G-leditschia triacanthos, Linne. 



The deciduous Honey-Locust tree of South-Eastern States of 

 North-America. Height reaching 80 feet, trunk to 4 feet in 

 diameter. Wood hard, coarse-grained, fissile, durable, even in 

 contact with soil, sought principally for blocks and hubs. The tree 

 is not without importance for street-planting. Rate of circumfer- 

 ential stem -growth in Nebraska, about 40 inches in 22 years at 2 

 feet from the ground [Furnas] ; growth in height at Port Phillip, 

 about 35 feet in 20 years. Sown closely this plant forms 

 impenetrable, thorny, not readily combustible hedges. An allied 

 species, the Gr. Sineiisis, Lamarck (Gr. horrida, Willd.), occurs in 

 East- Asia. The Water-Locust tree of North- America (G. monos- 

 pernia, Walt.) will grow to a height of 80 feet in swamps. -The 

 flowers of Grleditschia exude much honey-nectar for bees. The 

 somewhat succulent fruit is a poor esculent, but harmless. 



Grlycine hispida, Bentham.* (Soja hispida, Moench.) 



An annual herb of India, China and Japan. The beans afford 

 one of the main ingredients of the condiment known as Soja ; they 

 are very oily, nutritious, and of pleasant taste when boiled either 

 in a green state or when ripe ; in the latter state they need con- 

 siderable soaking before use. The return from the culture of this 

 plant is ample. The plant endures slight frost [Wittmack]. It is 

 not subject to attacks of insects and fungs [Yilmoriii]. Oil is 

 pressed from the seeds. It is also an extremely valuable fodder- 

 plant, according to Dr. Gr. Watt. Grlycine Soja, Siebold and 

 Zuccarini, is said to be a distinct plant, but probably serves the 

 same purpose. Two kinds of Soja-beans exist, one containing to 

 20 per cent, of oil, which sort is used for pressing, while the less 

 oily kind is used for sauce [James Taylor]. 



Crlycyrrhiza echinata, Linne. 



South-Europe and South-Western Asia. From the root of this 

 herb a portion of the Italian liquorice is prepared. The Russian 

 liquorice is also derived from this species. The root is thicker and 

 less sweet than that of the following. 



