Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 37 



Althaea officinalis, Linn. 



The real "Marsh-Mallow." Middle and Southern Europe, North- 

 ern Africa, Northern and Middle Asia. Hardy to lat. 59 55' in 

 Norway [Schuebeler]. A tall perennial herb, with handsome flowers. 

 The mucilaginous root and also the foliage are used for medicinal 

 purposes, the roots chiefly as expectorant internally, the leaves as 

 poultices externally. The plant succeeds best on damp, somewhat 

 saline soil. 



Althaea rosea, Cavanilles. 



The Hollyhock. A tall annual herb, very ornamental. On 

 account of the celerity of its growth it might be raised for green manure. 

 The flowers serve for a domestic dye. 



Amarantus Blitum, Linne. (A. polygamus, 



Southern Europe, Northern Africa, South-Western Asia. This 

 annual herb is a favorite plant amongst allied ones for spinage, but 

 not the only one used of this genus, as also many others quite as well 

 serve for culinary purposes. The dried plant contains 10 to 12 per 

 cent, nitrate of potash. It arrives at maturity in two or three months, 

 producing on favorable soil about 4 tons per acre, calculated to 

 contain about 400 Ibs. saltpetre. The same remark would probably 

 apply as an extreme result to other species, and show these 

 Amarants to be prominent nitrogenous manure-plants. All are 

 easily naturalised in apt climes and soils. 



Amarantus maximus, C. Bauhin. (A. caudatits, A. paniculatus, A. 

 s, Linn; A. cruentus, Willdenow j A. frumentosus, Hamilton.) 



America, in warm regions. An annual herb, attaining a height of 

 6 feet, yielding half a pound of floury nutritious seeds on a square- 

 yard of ground in fertile localities within three months according to 

 Roxburgh. The seed-increase is therefore thousand-fold. Exten- 

 sively grown for food grain in tropical countries, on the Himalayas 

 according to Sir Joseph Hooker even up to 9,000 feet. It serves 

 especially for an autumnal crop. The foliage utilised as a substitute 

 for spinage. 



Amarantus tricolor, 1'Obel. (A. fristis, A. melancholicus, A. gangeticus, A. 

 mangostanus, Linn4; A. oleraceus, Roxburgh.) 



Southern Asia. A stout annual, often of reddish hue like the 

 preceding species, and turned to culinary account in the same 

 manner, but when used as spinage any of these plants must be well 

 boiled and the water repeatedly changed. The seeds serve for 

 porridge and as poultry-feed. 



Amelanchier alnifolia, Nuttall. 



North- Western America. Allied to the following. The autoch- 

 thones store the dried fruit for winter-use. The wood is so tough 

 as to be used for rollers and for teeth of wheels in machinery [Dr. G. 

 Dawson]. 



