Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 157 



Gippsland, increasing the carrying capabilities of his land at least a 

 sheep per acre above other grasses tried by him. It is there relished 

 by pasture-animals, which is not always the case in drier localities. 



Cyperus corymbosus, Rottboell. 



India, North- Australia, Madagascar. This stately perennial rush 

 may be chosen to fringe our lakes and ponds. It is extensively used 

 for mats in India. The variety C. Pangorei furnishes the material 

 for the Tennevilly-matting [W. T. Dyer]. 



Cyperus esculentus, Linn. 



Southern Europe, Western Asia, various parts of Africa. Produces 

 the " Chufa " or Ground-Almond, an edible root, which contains 

 about 27 per cent, of starch, 17 per cent, of oil and 12 per cent, of 

 saccharine substance ; other (French) analyses give 28 per cent, oil, 

 29 starch, 14 sugar, 7 gum, 14 cellulose. This plant does not in- 

 juriously spread like the C. rotundus, and can be reared on sand-land, 

 though in rich soil the harvest is far more plentiful. The tubers, of 

 which as many as 100 to 150 may be obtained from each plant, are 

 consumed either raw or cooked. Hogs root them up for food. The 

 oil surpasses in excellence of taste all other oils used for culinary 

 purposes. The tubers are a fair substitute for coffee, when properly 

 roasted ; the root-crop is available in from four to six months. The 

 plant may become important in the most dreary and arid desert- 

 countries through naturalisation. In Norway it can be grown to 

 lat. 67 56' [Schuebeler]. The root of the North-American C. 

 phymatodes (Muehlenberg) is also nutty. C. esculentus and C. exal- 

 tatus (Retzius) are used for mats [Dr. G. Watt]. 



Cyperus Papyrus, 



The Nile-Papyrus, wild in various regions of Africa. Attains a 

 height of 16 feet. Though no longer strictly a utilitarian plant, as 

 in ancient times, it could scarcely be passed on this occasion, as it 

 ought to become valuable in the horticultural trade. Its grand aspect 

 recommends it as very decorative for aquatic plantations. 



Cyperus Syriacus, Parlatore. 



The Syrian or Sicilian Papyrus. This is the Papyrus-plant, 

 usual in garden-cultivation. It found its way to Australia first 

 through the action of the writer of this work. The plants in the 

 Melbourne Botanic Garden attain a height of 8 feet, but suffer some- 

 what from frost. Other tall decorative Cyperi deserve introduction, 

 for instance : C. giganteus (Rottboell) from the West Indies and 

 Guiana ; these kind of plants being hardier than the generality of 

 others of the same genus from the tropics. 



