14 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Acacia tortilis, Hayne. 



The Sahara- Acacia. North-Africa and Arabia. Eminently 

 suited for the hottest and driest regions. The Sahara gum arabic is 

 derived from this species. 



Acanthophcenix rubra, H. Wendland. 



Mauritius and Reunion. This palm has proved hardy in Florida, 

 also as far south as Sydney [C. Moore]. Height reaching 60 feet. 

 The upper rings of the stem are of a bright red. In gardens usually 

 passing as an Areca. 



Acanthosicyos horrida, Welwitsch. 



The " Narras." In the deserts of Angola, Benguela and Damaras. 

 This thorny, erect, cucurbitaceous shrub thrives even in absolute 

 coast-sand, and would likely prove valuable for sandy desert-country. 

 The tribes of Hottentots near Walfish-Bay mainly subsist, as regards 

 vegetable food, on the Narras for some time in the year. It bears 

 fruit of the size and colour of oranges, and of pleasant acidulous and 

 sweetish taste. The seeds are also edible, remarkably oily and of 

 hazel-taste [R. Marlott] ; they also serve as lab. The Missionary 

 Duparquet counted exceptionally as many as 200 fruits on one plant 

 [Prof. Naudin]. No rain occurs in the Acanthosicyos- and Welwit- 

 schia-region, but the mean heat does not exceed 70 F., and the soil 

 is kept somewhat moist through capillarity from beneath. 



Acer Campbellii, J. Hooker and Thomson. 



The chief Maple of the North-Eastern Himalayas up to 7,000 feet. 

 A large tree. Freely reproduced by seed or coppice. Wood pale, close- 

 grained, particularly valuable for planking [Gamble]. A. laevigatum 

 (Wallich) is another handsome species from the same region, the wood 

 of which is much used, for building and also for tea-boxes [Dr. G-. 

 Watt]. 



Acer campestre, 



The British Maple. Extends from Middle- and South-Europe to 

 Northern Africa, also to many parts of Asia. Height reaching 40 

 feet, in shelter and deep soil ; the yellow and purple tints of its 

 foliage in autumn render the tree then particularly beautiful. Occurs 

 in Norway to 63 26' N. L. [Prof. Schuebeler]. The wood is com- 

 pact and fine-grained, and sought for choice furniture, machinery and 

 musical instruments. The tree can be trimmed into hedges. Com- 

 paratively quick in growth, and easily raised from seed. These 

 remarks apply to many kinds of maples. 



Acer circinatum, Pursh. 



The Vine-Maple of North- Western America, forming in some parts 

 of Oregon impenetrable forests on account of its long branches 



