464 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Sophora Japonica, Linne. 



A deciduous tree of China and Japan, resembling the Laburnum, 

 at length 60 feet high. Hardy in Middle Europe. Wood hard and 

 compact, valued for turners' work. All parts of the plant purgative ; 

 the flowers rich in yellow dye, used for silk. The variety pendula, 

 desirable for cemeteries ; when trained as a creeper, it has few 

 rivals in handsomeness. 



Sophora tetraptera, J. Miller. 



]STew Zealand, Lord Howe's Island, Juan Fernandez Island, Chili, 

 Patagonia. The " Pelu " of the latter countries. A small tree, 

 with exceedingly hard and durable wood, which can be used for 

 cog-wheels and other select structures. Trunk exceptionally attain- 

 ing a diameter of three feet. The wood differs much from that of 

 S. Tomairo of the Easter-Island [Dr. Philippi]. 



Spartina cynosuroides, Willdenow. 



Eastern part of North- America, there often called Prairie-grass. 

 A perennial grass of fresh-water swamps ; it can be utilized for 

 fodder, and its value as paper-material seems almost equal to that 

 of Esparto. Emits shoots copiously, hence is recommended by 

 Bouche for binding maritime drift sands, covering the ground 

 densely with its persistent rigid foliage. 



Spartina juncea, Willdenow. 



Salt-marshes of North-America. A grass with creeping roots : 

 it can be utilized to bind moist sand on coasts. A tough fibre can 

 readily be obtained from the leaves. S. polystachya (Willdenow) 

 is a stately grass, adapted for saline soil ; it is also a North - 

 American species. S. juncea and S. cynosuroides extend to Canada 

 [J. Macouii]. 



Spartina stricta, Roth. 



The Twin-spiked Cord-grass. Countries on the Mediterranean 

 Sea, extending to Britain and also to North- America. A rigid 

 perennial with creeping roots, recommended for fixing and render- 

 ing solid any mud -flats on low shores and at the mouths of rivers : 

 only suitable for brackish ground. 



Spartium junceum, Linne. 



Countries around the Mediterranean Sea, thence to the Canary 

 Islands, Styria and Persia. This bush yields a textile fibre, which 

 was in prominent use already with the ancients. The flowers, 

 which are very fragrant, provide a yellow dye. 



