Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 377 



Polygonum tinctorium, Loureiro. 



China and Japan. An annual herb, deserving attention and 



local trials, as yielding a kind of indigo ; one of the most important 

 dye-plants of Japan. It can be cultivated in cold climes, being 

 hardy still at Christiania. Likes marshy land [Vilmorin]. Its 

 growth would be vigorous. Various Polygonums contain tannin, 

 P. amphibium (Linne) as much as llf per cent. [Masters.] 



Polyporus gig-anteus, Fries. 



Europe. Dr. Groeppert records this and also the following species 

 as allowed to be sold for food in Silesia : P. frondosus, Fr., P. 

 ovinus, Fr., P. tuberaster, Fr., P. citrinus, Pers. Dr. Atkinson 

 mentions as edible among the fungs of Cashmere P. squamosus 

 (Fries). Bergner and Frog illustrate P. confluens (Fries) among 

 the esculent fungs of Switzerland ; near relatives of all these occur 

 in Australia also. The P. portentosus (Berkeley) of Australia has 

 been recommended as material for trusses and for other articles 

 requiring lightness and some elasticity ; the almost cosmopolitan 

 P. iginarius (Fries) may perhaps serve similar purposes and as- 

 Solah-pith. 



Populus alba, Dodoens. 



The Abele or white Poplar, indigenous to South-Eastern Europe,, 

 North-Africa and Northern and Middle Asia, extending to North- 

 China, growing on the Himalayas up to 10,000 feet, ceasing at 

 4,000 feet, In Norway it is hardy to lat. 67 56 ' [Prof. Schuebeler]. 

 Height reaching 90 feet. Emits suckers. It has proved an 

 excellent avenue-tree, even in comparatively waterless situations, 

 and the partial whiteness of its foliage gives a pleasing effect in 

 any plantation. Indicates to some extent the state of the weather, 

 as known already to the Ancients [Fraas]. A Silver-Poplar at 

 Slow r itz attained a basal stem-diameter of 20 feet, indicating accord- 

 ing to Pannewitz an age of probably 400 years. The wood is pale, 

 with a reddish tinge, brown near the centre, soft and light. It can 

 be used for flooring ; it is particularly sought for trays, bowls, 

 bellows and shoe-soles ; also, according to Porcher, for wooden 

 structures under water. " Sparterie " for plaiting is obtained from 

 the wood-shavings. The wood of this and some other poplars is 

 easily converted into paper-pulp, which is cheaply bleached. Lines 

 of poplars along forest-streams prevent or impede the progress of 

 wood-conflagrations. The roots of poplars spread widely. P. 

 canescens (Smith), the Grey Poplar, is either a variety of the Abele 

 or its hybrid with the Aspen, and yields a better timber for 

 carpenters and millwrights. 



Populus angulata, Alton. 



Eastern North- Am erica. The " Water- Poplar " or Carolina- 

 Poplar. Acquires a height of about 70 feet ; branches very spread- 

 ing ; hence this species well adapted as a promenade-tree. 



