28 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Aira caespitosa, Lume\ 



Widely dispersed over the globe, reaching as indigenous also Aus- 

 tralia. A rough fodder-grass, best utilised for laying dry any moist 

 meadows ; affords fair pasturage, if periodically burnt down [J. 

 Stirling]. Extends to 71 7' N. in Norway [Schuebeler], A. Kingii, 

 A. antarctica and A. Magellanica (J. Hooker) are among nutritive 

 congeners from extra-tropic South-America, the first particularly for 

 cattle, the two other more for sheep [Hieronymus]. 



Akebia quinata, Decaisne. 



Japan. A shrubby climber. This, as well as A. lobata (Decaisne) 

 of the same country, bears rather large sweet fruits. The last- 

 mentioned species extends as an indigenous one to China. Both have 

 early and very fragrant flowers. 



Albizzia basaltica, Bentham. 



Eastern sub-tropic Australia. A small tree. The wood praised 

 by Mr. P. O'Shanesy for its beautiful reddish colour and silky lustre. 

 Cattle like the foliage. As a genus Pithecolobium differs no more 

 from Albizzia than Vachellia from Acacia or Cathartocarpus from 

 Cassia. The oldest generic name is Zygia, but no species was early 

 described under that name. 



Albizzia bigemina, F. v. Mueller. (Pithecolobium bigeminum, Martius. ) 



India, up to Sikkim and Nepal, ascending in Ceylon to 4,000 feet. 

 Desirable for Australian forestry on account of its peculiar dark and 

 hard wood. Another congener, A. subcoriacea (Pithecolobium sub- 

 coriaceum, Thwaites), from the mountains of India, is deserving of 

 utilitarian cultivation with numerous other tall species. 



Albizzia dulcis, F. v. Mueller. (Pithecolobium duke, Bentham.) 



Mexico. Advancing in tree-growth to 50 feet. Thorny. Has 

 hardly a rival as a hedge-plant in frostless climes [W. Fawcett]. 

 Particularly resisting sea-breeze. The sweet pulp of the pod is 

 regarded as wholesome. Ripens its fruit as far south as Moreton- 

 Bay [F. Turner]. 



Albizzia Julibrissin, Durazzini. 



From the Caucasus to Japan. A favorite ornamental red-flower- 

 ing Shade-Acacia in Southern Europe. Naturally it seeks river- 

 banks. 



Albizzia latisiliqua, F. v. Mueller. (Lysiloma latisiliqua, Bentham.) 



Tropical America. A large spreading tree ; trunk attaining a 

 diameter of 3 feet; wood excellent for select cabinet-work, excelling 

 according to Nuttall the Mahogany in its variable shining tints, 

 which appear like watered satin; it is hard and close-grained. 



