Naturalisation in Extra- Tropical Countries. 473 



Tacca pinnatafida, I. E. & u. Forster. 



From India to tropical Australia and Polynesia, also in Mada- 

 gascar. This perennial plant will live even on sand-shores. From 

 the tubers of this herb the main supply of the Fiji-arrowroot is 

 prepared. It is not unlikely, that this plant will endure a temper- 

 ate climate. The Tacca-starch is much valued in medicine, and 

 particularly used in cases of dysentery and diarrhoea. Its character- 

 istics are readily recognised under the microscope. Several other 

 kinds of Tacca are distinguished, but their specific limits are not 

 yet well ascertained. From the leaves and flower-stalks light kinds 

 of bonnets are plaited. A Tacca, occurring in Hawaia, yields a 

 large quantity of the so-called arrowroot exported thence. Other 

 species (including those of Ataccia) occur in India, Guinea, Guiana 

 and North-Brazil, all deserving tests in reference to their hardi- 

 ness and their value as starch-plants. 



Tag-etes glanduligrera, Schranck. 



South-America. This vigorous annual plant is said by Dr. 

 Prentice to be pulicifugous. 



Talinuxn patens, Willdenow. 



From Mexico to Argentina. A perennial succulent herb, which 

 might easily be naturalized on coast- and river-rocks. It furnishes 

 the " Puchero " vegetable. The Talinum-species can all be placed 

 well enough into the genus Claytonia. 



Tropical Asia and Africa. This magnificent, large, expansive 

 tree ranges northward to Egypt, and was found in North-Western 

 Australia by the writer of this list ; reaches a very great age. 

 Final stem-girth of 25 feet not rare. Never leafless. . Varieties 

 occur, according to Brandis, with sweetish red pulp. It is indi- 

 cated here not without hesitation, to suggest trials of its acclima- 

 tion in regions of the temperate zone with a warm, humid and 

 equable temperature. In East- Australia, slightly outside the tropics 

 it bears still abundantly, and it remains hardy at all events as far 

 south as Moreton-Bay. In some situations it is attacked by boring 

 insects [Edgar]. The acid pulp of the pods forms the medicinal 

 tamarind, rich in formic and butyric acid, irrespective of its other 

 contents ; cold made into a syrup, it can be kept for preparing an 

 acidulous beverage. 



Tamarix diolca, Eoxburgh. 



India, up to 2,500 feet. An important shrub for binding newly 

 formed river-banks, even in saline soil. 



Tamariz Gallica. Linne.* 



Southern Europe, Northern and tropical Africa, Southern and 

 Eastern Asia, ascending the Himalayas to 11,000 feet; hardy still 



