294 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Nag-eia (Podocarpus) Thunbergri, Hooker. 



South- Africa. Superior to N. pruinosa (E. Meyer) and even N- 

 elongata in the quality of its wood ; it is bright-yellow, fine -grained, 

 and very handsome when polished [Dr. Pappe]. Always a 

 smaller tree than N. elongata according to Mr. Will. Tuck. 



Magreia (Podocarpus) Totara, D. Don.* 



New Zealand. A fine tree, to 120 feet high, with a stem 

 reaching 20 feet in circumference ; it is called Mahogany-pine by 

 the colonists. The reddish, close-grained and durable wood is 

 easily worked, valuable both for building and for furniture, and 

 also extensively used for telegraph-posts ; indeed it is considered 

 one of the most valuable timbers of New Zealand, though it is 

 somewhat brittle. Chosen for piles of bridges, wharves and jetties 

 and in other naval architecture ; the heart-wood resists decay and 

 the attacks of the Teredo for a long time, according to Professor 

 Kirk. It ranks below Kauri in strength, but equals it in durability. 

 It is one of the most lasting woods for railway-sleepers, but the 

 sap-wood should be taken off. When used for piles, the bark should 

 not be removed from the timber. Many other tall timber-trees of 

 the genus Podocarpus or Nageia occur in various parts of Asia, 

 Africa and America, doubtless all desirable ; but the quality of 

 their timber is Jiot well known, though likely in many cases 

 excellent. Nageia is by far the oldest published name of the 

 genus. 



Kardostachys Jatamansi, De Candolle. 



Mountains from Bengal to Nepal, at elevations from 11,000 to 

 17,000 feet [J. Hooker]. " The Spikenard." A perennial herb, 

 famous in ancient times as a medicinal plant. The root contains 

 an ethereal oil and bitter principle. 



Nastus Bor bonicus, Gmelin. 



Reunion, where it forms a belt all round the mountains of the 

 island, in a zone of 3-4,000 feet. This beautiful bamboo grows to 

 a height of about 50 feet [General Munro]. A second species, 

 namely N. capitatus (Kunth), occurs in Madagascar. 



Nelumbo lutea. Caspary.* (Nelumbium luteum, Willdenow). 



The Water-Chinquepin. In Eastern North-America, northward 

 to 44 ; also in Jamaica. This magnificent perennial water-plant 

 carries with it the type of Nelumbo nucifera, but seems more hardy, 

 and thus better adapted for extra-tropical latitudes, the Pythagorean 

 Bean not descending in Australia naturally beyond 23", although 

 this species also may perhaps be able to live in the warmer parts 

 of the temperate zone. The tuberous roots of both species resemble 

 somewhat the Sweet Potato and are starchy ; the seeds are of 

 particularly pleasant taste. The plants would be of great value as 



