224 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



and wood-work of most of the houses, and is besides manufactured 

 into all kinds of utensils. The Genus Gruadua comprises the 

 stoutest of all Bamboos. 



Gruadua latif olia, Kunth.* (Bambosa latifolia, Humboldt and Bonpland.) 



One of the tall Bamboos of Central America, whence several 

 other lofty Bamboos may be obtained, among them the almost 

 climbing Chusqueas. This Gruadua is stouter than any Indian 

 Bamboo. In tropical America native Bamboos are planted for 

 hedges. Gr. amplexifolia (Presl.) is an allied species, which 

 extends from Mexico to Venezuela and attains a height of 60 feet. 



Guajacum officinale. Llnne. 



Antilles and Venezuela. Tree, attaining middle size, but of slow 

 growth. Hardy in Natal, also at Moreton-Bay. Yields the heavy, 

 diagonally fibrous, somewhat odorous, greenish "Lignum Vitae," a 

 wood which is unique in its qualities and much sought for skittle- 

 balls, blocks, pulleys, rulers. The resin is used medicinally and 

 for chemic tests. 



G-uevina Avellana, Molina.* (Quadria heterophylla, Ruiz ond Pavon..) 



The evergreen Hazel-tree of Chili, extending to the Chonos- 

 Archipelagus. One of the most beautiful trees in existence, 

 attaining a height of 30 feet. The snowy- white flower-spikes pro- 

 duced simultaneously with the ripening of the coral-red fruit. In 

 the cooler southern regions the tree attains considerable dimensions. 

 The wood is tough and elastic, and used particularly for boat- 

 building [Dr. Philippi]. The fruit of the allied South- African 

 Brabejum stellatifolium (Linne) can only be utilized with caution 

 and in a roasted state as an article of diet, because it is noxious or 

 even absolutely poisonous in a raw state. 



G-uizotia oleilera, Be Candolle. 



India and probably also Abyssinia. Rantil-oil is pressed from 

 the seeds of this annual herb, which yields its crop in three months. 

 The oil is much used like Sesamum-oil, for culinary as well as for 

 technic purposes. Madia sativa (Molina), a native of Western- 

 America, is excluded from a recommendatory position in this work, 

 as it becomes an irrepressibly troublesome weed. 



G-unnera Chilensis, Lamarck. 



Caraccas to Patagonia, chiefly on cliffs. A most impressive plant 

 for scenic groups in gardens. Darwin measured leaves 8 feet broad 

 and 24 feet in circumference. It thrives luxuriantly at Port Phillip, 

 when somewhat shaded from intense dry heat. Severe frosts affect 

 it in exposed situations. The acidulous leaf-stalks serve as a vege- 

 table ; the thick roots are used for tanning and dyeing. Gr. peltata 

 (Philippi) is another large species, restricted to Juan Fernandez. 



