174 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Duboisia Hopwoodii, F. v. Mueller. 



The Pitury. Inland desert-regions from New South Wales and 

 Queensland to near the west-coast of Australia. This shrub deserves 

 medicinal cultivation on account of its highly stimulating and some- 

 what narcotic properties. The aborigines chew the leaves for 

 enabling them to endure want of water for a day or more on long 

 walks. The infusion of the leaves induces sleep, but can only be 

 administered cautiously in small quantity. The dried herb yields 

 about 1 to 2 per cent, of the volatile fluid alkaloid, piturin, which has 

 been chemically investigated by Professor Liversidge. 



Duboisia Leichhardti, F. v. Mueller. 



Western Queensland. The foliage of this species is the most 

 powerful of all, so that for cultural return this may prove the most 

 lucrative. Will bear some frost. Easily raised from seeds. 



Duboisia myoporoides, R. Brown. 



East- Australia and New Caledonia. Restricted to woody regions. 

 The leaves have come into use for ophthalmic surgery. The alkaloid 

 contained therein, duboisin, is allied to piturin, and important as a 

 mydriatic [Bancroft] and as an anodyne. It is held by Ladenberg 

 to be closely allied to Hyoscyamin in chemical constitution and 

 physiologic effect, but is also allied to nicotine. The tree attains 

 in deep forest-glens a height of 60 feet [Ralston], but flowers even 

 as a shrub. 



Duvaua longifolia, Lindley. 



La Plata-States. This shrub and the allied D. latifolia, called 

 Molle there, yield foliage rich in tannin (about 20 per cent.), which 

 as it does not give any colour to leather, is much valued for particular 

 currying [Dr. Lorentz], 



Dypsis pinnatifrons, Martius. (Spinus dependens, Ortega. ) 



Madagascar. This dwarf Palm proved hardy in Sydney, together 

 with Copernicia cerifera [C. Moore]. 



Ecbalium Elaterium, Richard. 



The Squirting Cucumber. Mediterranean- regions and Orient. 

 An annual. The powerful purgative Elaterium is prepared from 

 the pulp of the fruit. Chemical principles : elaterid, elaterin, 

 hydroelaterin. 



Echinocactus Fendleri, Engelmann. 



Mexico. A species attractive for its large rosy flowers, and, like 

 the red-flowered E. gonacanthus, E. Simpsoni, E. conoideus, E. 

 phoeniceus, E. viridiflorus, E. viviparus and E. paucispineus, among 

 the most hardy of North- American Cacteae [E. G. Loder] . 



