Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 475 



Taraxacum officinale, Weber. 



"Dandelion." In most of the temperate and cold parts of the 

 globe, but apparently not a native of Australia. It lives in Norway 

 northward to lat. 71 10' [Schuebeler]. This well-known plant is 

 mentioned, as it can be brought under regular cultivation, to obtain 

 the medicinal extract from its roots. It is also considered whole- 

 some to grazing animals. The young leaves furnish a medicinal 

 salad. It is also an important honey-plant and flowers early in the 

 season. 



Tarchonanthus camphoratus, Linne. 



South -Africa. This bush deserves attention, being of medicinal 

 value. As an odorous garden-plant it is also very acceptable. 



Tazodium distichum, Richard.* 



Virginian Swamp- or Bald-Cypress. In swampy places of 

 Eastern North -America, extending from 38 to 47 north latitude. 

 Thought to attain occasionally an age of 2,000 years ; wood-rings to 

 the number of about 4,000 have been counted, but perhaps these 

 not all fully annual. A valuable tree, 100 feet high or more, 

 sometimes with a stem circumference of 40 feet above the conical 

 base ; of rapid growth ; foliage deciduous, like that of the Larch 

 and Ginkgo. Important as antimalarian for wet fever-regions. 

 It is found fossil in the miocene formation of many parts of Europe. 

 The wood is fine-grained, hard, strong, light, elastic and very 

 durable ; splits well ; it is much used for shingles, rails, cabinet- 

 work and planks ; it is almost indestructible in water. The tree 

 requires a rich soil, a well-sheltered site, with much moisture but 

 also good drainage [Lawson]. It yields a superior kind of turpen- 

 tine, and thus also much oil on distillation. Useful for avenues on 

 swampy margins of lakes or river-banks. Dr. Porcher says, " This 

 tree, lifting its giant-form above the others, gives a striking 

 feature to many of the swamps of Carolina and Georgia ; they 

 seem like watch-towers for the feathered race." 



Taxodium mucronatum, Tenore. 



The famed Montezuma-Cypress of Mexico ; to 120 feet high, 

 with a trunk reaching 44 feet in circumference ; it forms extensive 

 forests between Chapultepec and Tescuco. 



Taxus baccata, Linne. 



Yew. Europe, North-Africa and Asia, in the Himalayas up to 

 11,000 feet elevation. In Norway it extends northward to lat. 67 

 30 ' (indigenous) ; Professor Schuebeler found it to attain still a 

 height of 45 feet and a circumference of 4 feet in lat. 59 26 '. 

 Generally a shrub, finally a tree as many as 100 feet high ; it 

 furnishes a yellow or brown wood, which is exceedingly tough, 

 elastic and durable, and much esteemed by turners ; one of the 



