332 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Peucedanum Sekakul. F. v. Mueller. (Pastinaca Selcakul, Eussell ; 

 Malabaila Sekakul, Boissier.) 



From Greece to Persia and Egypt. The root of this perennial 

 herb was brought already under medical notice by Dr. Ran wolf ; 

 in a boiled state it affords a palatable esculent. 



Peutnus Boldus, Molina. 



The Boldo of Chili. A small ornamental evergreen tree, with 

 exceedingly hard wood, which is utilised for many kinds of imple- 

 ments. The bark furnishes dye-material. The fruits are of 

 aromatic and sweet taste [Dr. Philippi]. 



Peziza macropus, Persoon. 



Europe. Mentioned by Prof. Groeppert among the edible mush- 

 rooms, sold in Silesia along with P. repanda (Wahlenberg) . 



Phalaris aquatica, Linne. 



Southern Europe and Northern Africa. Important as a perennial 

 fodder-grass, fit for wet ground. 



Phalaris arundinacea, Linn.'. 



Temperate and colder regions of Europe, Asia and America ; 

 indigenous in Norway to lat. 70 30 '. Not without some importance 

 as a reedy grass of bulky yield on wet meadows or in swampy 

 places. A variety with white-striped leaves is a favorite as a 

 ribbon-plant for garden-plots. 



Phalaris Canariensis, Linne. 



The Canary-grass. An annual grass from the Canary-Islands, 

 now widely dispersed as a spontaneous plant over the warmer zones 

 of the globe. Thus it has also become naturalised in Australia. It 

 will endure the climate of Norway to lat. 70 22 ; , bearing seed to 

 lat. 63 26' [Prof. Schuebeler]. It is grown for its seeds, which 

 form one of the best kinds of food for many sorts of small cage- 

 birds. The flour is utilised in certain processes of cotton-manu- 

 facture, and liked even for some kinds of cakes. The soil for culture 

 of the Canary-grass must be friable and not too poor. It is an 

 exhaustive crop. Chemical constituents here (in November) : 

 Albumen T59, gluten 6*14, starch T03, gum 6'64, sugar 2'86 per 

 cent. (P. v. Mueller and L. Hummel) ; another analysis in the same 

 month gave : Albumen 1 - 06, gluten 5*64, starch O98, gum 3*22, 

 sugar 4'20 per cent. Import of seeds during 1887 into Victoria, 

 2,981 centals, valued at 1,738. As allied species of similar use, 

 but mostly of less yield, may be enumerated: P. brachystachys 

 (Link) from Italy, P. minor (Retzius) and P. trunctata (Ghissone) 

 from various countries on the Mediterranean Sea, the last-mentioned 

 being perennial. Other species, including some from Asia, are 

 deserving of trial. P. minor is recommended by Dr. Curl for per- 



