Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 229 



Fistulina hepatica, Fries. 



Europe and Asia, East- Australia. This large, esculent fungui 

 grows generally on old oak-stems, but does accommodate itself to 

 other habitations also. Its introduction elsewhere is worthy of 

 trial. 



Pitzroya Patagonica, J. Hooker.* 



Chili, as far south as Chiloe. The Alerce of the Chilians. 

 Grows on swampy, moory places. A stately tree, sometimes to 100 

 feet high ; the diameter of the stem occasionally reaches the extra- 

 ordinary extent of 15 feet. The wood is almost reddish, easily 

 split, light, does not warp, stands exposure to the air for half a 

 century ; in Valdivia and Chiloe almost all buildings are roofed 

 with shingles of this tree [Dr. Philippi]. The outer bark produces 

 a strong fibre, used for calking ships. Like Libocedrus tetragona 

 this tree should be extensively planted in unutilised swampy moors 

 of mountains. 



Placourtia Ramontchi, L'H&ritier. (F. sapida, Roxburgh.) 



From Lower India up to Beloochistan. This and F. cataphracta 

 (Roxburgh) form thorny trees with somewhat plum-like fruits. 

 They can be adopted for hedge-copses with other species. Bears 

 at Moreton-Bay. 



Flemingia tuberosa, Dalzell. 



Western India. The tubers of this herb are said to be edible. 

 Another species, F. vestita (Bentham), is on record as cultivated, 

 for its small esculent tubers, in North- Western India, where it 

 ascends to the temperate region up to 7,000 feet. Both might be 

 improved by culture. F. congesta (Roxburgh) yields a dye. 



Plindersia Australia, R. Brown. 



New South Wales and Queensland. With Araucaria Cunning- 

 hami and Ficus macrophylla, the tallest of all the jungle-trees of 

 its localities, attaining 150 feet. Bark scaly ; stem to a diameter 

 of 8 feet. A noble tree for avenues. Rate of growth, according 

 to Mr. Ch. Fawcett, about 25 feet in eight years. Timber of 

 extraordinary hardness [Ch. Moore]. It is so tough as to serve for 

 the yokes of draught-oxen. Mr. Jennings' ingenious method of 

 exsiccating moist substances by the "cool dry air-press," is not 

 only applicable to esculent fruits, but also to any kind of timber, 

 which by this method can be "seasoned" in a few days without 

 splitting or warping. 



Plindersia Oxleyana, F. v. Mueller. 



The Yellow Wood of New South Wales and Queensland, called 

 " Bogum Bogum " by the aborigines. Its wood is used locally for 



