Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 239 



GinkgO biloba, Linne.* (Salisburia adiantifolia, Smith.) 



Ginkgo-tree. China and Japan. A deciduous fan-leaved tree, to 

 100 feet high, with a straight stem to 12 feet in diameter. The wood 

 is pale, soft, easy to work and takes a beautiful polish. The seeds 

 are edible, and when pressed yield a good oil. The fruits, sold in 

 China under the name of " Pa-Koo," are not unlike dried almonds, 

 but the kernel fuller and rounder. Ginkgo-trees are estimated to attain 

 an age of 3,000 years. Mr. Christy observes, that the foliage turns 

 chrome-yellow in autumn, and that it is the grandest and most highly 

 esteemed of all trees in Japan ; it will grow in dry situations. In 

 America it is hardy as far north as Montreal, in Europe to Christiania. 

 Now acclimatised to the winters of Germany [H. Koehler] . Dr. M. T. 

 Masters recommends this specially as a promenade tree in cool coun- 

 tries, particularly adapted to resist the injurious effects of town 

 atmospheres. 



Gladiolus edulis, Burchell. 



Interior of South-Africa. The bulb-like roots are edible, and taste 

 like chestnuts when roasted. 



Glaucium luteum, Scopoli. (G. flavum, Crantz.) 



Western and Southern Europe, Northern Africa and Western Asia. 

 This fast-spreading biennial herb, now also naturalised on some of the 

 Australian coasts, does good service in aiding to subdue drift-sand. 

 The plant has also some medicinal value, but may become dangerous 

 to pasture-animals on account of its narcotic properties. 



G-leditschia triacanthos, Linn6. 



The deciduous Honey-locust tree of South-Eastern States of North- 

 America. Height reaching 80 feet, trunk to 4 feet in diameter. 

 Wood hard, coarse-grained, fissile, durable, even in contact with soil, 

 sought principally for blocks and hubs. The tree is not without im- 

 portance for street-planting. Rate of circumferential stem-growth 

 in Nebraska, about 40 inches in 22 years at two feet from the ground 

 [Furnas]; growth in height at Port Phillip, about 35 feet in 20 years. 

 Sown closely this plant forms impenetrable, thorny, not readily com- 

 bustible hedges. An allied species, the G. Sinensis, Lamarck (G. 

 horrida, Willd.), occurs in East- Asia. The Water-Locust tree of 

 North- America (G. monosperma, Walt.) will grow to a height of 80 

 feet in swamps. The flowers of Gledits.chia exude much honey-nectar 

 for bees. The somewhat succulent fruit is a poor esculent, but 

 harmless. Ought to come in for cattle-feed. 



Glycine hispida, Maximowicz.* (Soja, hispida, Mcench.) 



An annual herb of India, China and Japan. The beans afford one 

 of the main ingredients of the condiment known as Soja ; they are 

 very oily, nutritious, and of pleasant taste when boiled either in a 



