324 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



May prove hardy in mild temperate climes, and may perhaps live 

 in the dry and hot air of deserts, where it deserves trial-culture for 

 the sake of its edible, mealy, plum-shaped fruit. A few other 

 species with esculent drupes occur in different tropical countries. 



Parkinsonia aculeata, Limn'. 



From California to Uruguay. A thorny shrub, clearly adapted 

 for the warmer regions of the temperate zone, where it might be 

 utilized with the following plant for evergreen hedges. Became 

 naturalized in the milder tracts of Eastern Australia. The flowers 

 are handsome. Six other species occur in various parts of America. 



Parkinsonia Africana, Sender. 



South- Africa. A tall hedge-bush. 



Parrotia Jacquemontiana, Decaisne. 



North- We stern Himalayas, from about 3,000 to 8,500 feet eleva- 

 tion. This deciduous-leaved small tree merits attention. Its tough 

 and pliable twigs are used for basket-work and preferred for twig- 

 bridges, the latter sometimes 300 feet long ; hence this tree could 

 be used for a variety of economic purposes [Stewart and Brandis]. 

 P. Persica (C. A. Meyer) occurs on the Caspian Sea. 



Parthenium integrifolium, Linne. 



Eastern North-America. The flowering tops of this perennial 

 bitter herb have come into use as a febrifuge [Houlton]. 



Paspalum ciliatum, Humboldt. 



Tropical South- America. A perennial and lauded cereal grass. 



Paspalum dilatatum, Poiret. (P. ovatum, Trinius.) 



North- and South-America into extra-tropic latitudes. Perennial ; 

 of excellent quality for fodder; keeps green during the hottest 

 summer-time. Mr. Bacchus found it hardy up to a height of 2,000 

 feet in Victoria. It grew 4| feet in little more than two months in 

 New South Wales, after drought was followed by heavy rains. 

 It is closely allied to the Mexican P. virgatum, L. Introduced into 

 Australia by the writer with many other fodder-grasses Reported 

 to have extra-ordinary drought-resistance [W. Farrer]. 



Paspalum distichum, Limn'.* 



The " Silt- Grass." North- and South- America, except the 

 colder regions ; elsewhere probably introduced, though now widely 

 naturalised also in the warmer coast-tracts of the eastern hemisphere. 

 Possibly indigenous to Australia also. Endures some frost. Will 

 submit to temporary inundation ; will grow half emerging in 

 shallow pools or wet meadows, and proves quickly fattening to 

 cattle [A. R. Crawford]. A creeping bank- or swamp-grass, 



