Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 241 



Ipomcea pcs caprae, Both. 



Tropical and sub-tropical sea-shores of both hemispheres. Can 

 be used in coast-regions free of frost, to bind drift-sand. Prefer- 

 entially chosen for this purpose by Colonel Worster in Madras. 



Ipomcea purgra, Wenderoth. 



Mountains of Mexico. The true Jalap. This species yields the 

 medicinal jalap-root. It has recently been cultivated with apparent 

 success even at New York. Particularly entitled to a trial in warm 

 woodlands. Active principle : the resinous convolvulin. I. Oriza- 

 bensis (Ledanois) also yields jalap, according to Hanbury. 



Ipomcea simulans, Hanbury. 



Mexico. From this species the Tampico-jalap, or rather the 

 Sierra- Grorda- jalap, is derived. I. operculata (Martins) yields the 

 Brazilian jalap. 



Iris Florentina, Linne. 



Countries around the Mediterranean Sea. The well-known 

 " Orris-root " is obtained from this species. Of the same geo- 

 graphic range is Iris juncea (Poiret), the edible root of which 

 is known by the name of Zeloak among the Algerian natives 

 [Symonds]. I. versicolor (Linne) of Eastern North- America is 

 there drawn into medicinal use. 



Isatis indigrotica, Fortune. 



Northern China. Perennial, almost shrubby. Its use is similar 

 to that of the following plant. 



Zsatis tinctoria, Linne. 



Dyer's Woad." From the Mediterranean regions through part 

 of the Orient, apparently extending as far as Japan. In Norway 

 it is hardy to lat. 67 16' [Schuebeler] . A tall herb of two years' 

 duration. The blue dye is obtained from the fermented leaves. 

 Woad succeeds best in rich limestone-ground. Contains luteolin. 

 Many other species of Isatis, mostly Asiatic, may perhaps produce 

 dye with equal advantage. Boissier enumerates twenty-eight kinds 

 merely as Oriental. 



Jacaranda mimosifolia, D. Don, 



Brazil. This tree, with J. Braziliana and J. obtusifolia (Hum- 

 bolt), furnishes a beautiful and fragrant kind of Palixander-or 

 Palissandre-wood, and so do probably some other tropical American 

 species. This wood is bluish-red, traversed by blackish streaks. 

 J. mimosifolia is hardy at Melbourne, soon recovering from the 

 injuries of our slight nocturnal frosts, and thus may perhaps be 

 reared with advantage in many of the warmer and moister regions 

 of the temperate zone, if it were only for its ornamental grandeur. 



Q 



