270 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



UXaranta arundinacea, Linne. 



The True Arrowroot- Plant, or more correctly "Aru-root," inas- 

 much as Aru-Aru is the Brazilian word for flour, according to 

 Martius. West-Indies, Florida, Mexico to Brazil. The plant is 

 introduced into this list not without hesitation, as it seems to 

 require a tropical clime to attain perfection. The annual mean 

 temperature of 65 F. suffices for this plant [Morris]. It is culti- 

 vated up to 3,000 feet in Jamaica according to Mr. Fawcett. It 

 furnishes most of the West-Indian arrowroot- starch, although 

 other species, such as M. nobilis, M. Allouya and M. ramosissima, 

 are also cultivated for a similar starch contained in their tubers. 

 Dr. Porcher observes, that it still flourishes as far north as Florida, 

 producing even in the pine-lands from 200 to 300 bushels of tubers 

 to the acre. General Sir John Lefroy found in Bermuda 100 Ibs. 

 of the root to yield 15 to 20 Ibs. starch. M. Indica (Tussac) is 

 merely a variety. 



IVTarliera glomerata, Bentham. (Rubachia glomerata, Berg.) 



The " Cambuca " of sub-tropical Brazil. The fruits attain the 

 size of apricots, and are locally much used for food [Dr. Bosenthal]. 



Marliera tomentosa, Cambessedes. 



Extra- tropical Brazil. The " Guaparanga." The sweet berries 

 of this tall shrub are of the size of cherries. 



BXarrubium vulg-are, I/Ecluse. 



Middle and South-Europe, Northern Africa, Western Asia. The 

 " Horehound." This tall perennial odorous herb, though in many 

 countries quite a weed, is here also enumerated for completeness' 

 sake. Its naturalisation can nowhere be unwelcome, as it does not 

 unduly spread, as it has important medicinal properties much 

 dependent on the crystalline Marrubin, and as the flowers through 

 much of the season afford to bees nectar for a pale excellent honey. 

 The plant accomodates itself readily to any forlorn waste land. 

 M. Alyssum (Linne), M. apulum (Tenore) and M. Pannoncium 

 (1'Ecluse) are also apiarian plants [D. Savastano]. 



Matricaria Chamomilla, Linne. 



The annual " Chamomile." Europe, Northern and Middle Asia. 

 A highly useful herb in medicine. In many parts of the Euro- 

 pean continent it is much more extensively employed than the 

 ordinary perennial Chamomile. The infusion of the flowers has 

 rather a pleasant taste without bitterness. The flowers serve as a 

 tonic, and especially as a sudorific, and possess a peculiar volatile 

 oil. In Norway this plant is grown as far north as lat. 70 22 

 [Schuebeler]. In Portugal planted under fruit-trees for insec- 

 ticidal purposes. 



