158 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Cyperus tegetum, Roxburgh. (C. Malaccensis, Lamarck.) 



North-Eastern Africa, India, China and North- Australia. This 

 Galingale-Rush might be naturalised on river-banks to obtain 

 material for the superior mats made of it in Bengal. The fresh 

 stems are slit longitudinally into three or four pieces, each of which 

 curls round while drying, and can then be worked into durable and 

 elegant mats. In China it is cultivated like rice, -but in brackish 

 ground only, where narrow channels will allow the water to flow in 

 and out with the rising and receding tide [Hance and Dilthey]. 

 Consul W. M. Cooper reports, that in 1878 about 15 millions of 

 Ningpo-hats were exported, nearly as many in 1887. In making 

 these hats the stems are used whole. 



Cyperus textilis, Thunberg. (Cyperus vaginatus, R.. Brown.) 



Widely dispersed over the Australian continent, also occurring in 

 Southern Africa. It is restricted to swampy localities, and thus is 

 not likely to stray into ordinary fields. In the colony of Victoria it 

 is one of the best indigenous fibre-plants, and it is likewise valuable as 

 being with ease converted into pulp for good writing-paper, as shown 

 by the author many years ago. Its perennial growth allows of regular 

 annual cutting. The natives on the Murray-River use this as well 

 as Carex tereticaulis (F. v. M.) for nets. 



Cytisus prolifer, Linn6 fil. 



Canary-Islands. The " Tagasaste." The variety Palmensis is a 

 fodder-shrub for light dry soil : finally to 20 feet high, deep-rooted, 

 rather intolerant to frost and drought [Dyer]. Mr. Hardy, of Adelaide, 

 recommends it as quickly-growing for a break-wind. Requires to be 

 periodically cut back, as it otherwise gets too hard for fodder. Very 

 valuable also for apiarists, as flowering during several months, and 

 here during the cool season. In some places it was found that 

 horses and cattle dislike this plant as nutriment. It grows quickly 

 again when cut. 



Cytisus SCOparius, Link. (Spartium scoparium, Linn. ) 



The Broom-Bush. Europe, North- Asia ; wild in Norway to 58 

 N. Of less significance as a broom-plant than as one of medicinal 

 value, acting as a diuretic and purgative. Can further be counted 

 among honey- and even fibre-plants, as shown by Yvard [See Revue 

 des sciences natur, appliquees 1892, p. 139-143.] It can also be used 

 for tanning purposes. Most valuable for arresting drift-sand. Easily 

 raised from seeds. A yellow dye (scoparin) is obtainable from the 

 flowers. The liquid alkaloid spartein is a prompt cardial tonic 

 [Prof. Bartholow]. 



Cytisus spinosus, Lamarck. (Calycotome spinosa, Link.) 



Countries around the Mediterranean Sea. This bush forms a 

 strong prickly garden-hedge, handsome when closely clipped [W. 

 Elliott]. 



