Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 263 



with milk and sugar, and is the favorite beverage in large portions 

 , of South-America [Dr. Macedo Scares]. The leaves destined for 

 the Mat6 are slightly roasted. This plant was introduced as long 

 ago as 1854 into the Melbourne Botanic Garden, where it thrives 

 fairly well. I. Dahoon (Walter) and I. dipyrena (Wallace) are used 

 for the same purpose, and probably other hollies may be found 

 occasionally fair substitutes. I. theezans (Martius) also yields in 

 Southern Brazil a kind of Mate, but Mr. N. E. Brown regards that 

 plant as well as I. sorbilis and I. domestica as mere varieties of 

 I. Paraguensis. Chemical principles : coSein, quina-acid and a pecu- 

 liar tannic acid, which latter can be converted into viridin-acid. 



Ilex verticillata, Gray. (Prinos verticillatus, Linne*.) 



Eastern North- America. There the bark much used for medicinal 

 purposes, both externally and internally. 



Illicium verum, J. Hooker. 



Southern-China. The Star- Anise. An evergreen shrub or small 

 tree. The starry fruits used in medicine and as a condiment. Their 

 flavor is derived from a peculiar volatile oil with anethol; this 

 essential oil is in use for a particular liqueur. It has only now been 

 placed beyond doubt, that it is this plant just specifically defined 

 which furnishes the Star- Anise. See Dyer's " Kew Bulletin," 

 July, 1888. 



Illippe butyracea, F. v. Mueller. (Bassia butyracea, Roxburgh.) 



India, up to 4,500 feet. A tree, gaining a height of 50 feet. The 

 pulp of the fruit is edible. The seeds yield a white soft fat, of 

 pleasant smell, used in the making of pomades, ointments, superior 

 soap and candles. 



Illippe latifolia, F. v. Mueller.* (Bassia latifolia, Roxburgh.) 



The " Mahwa." Central India, extending to Ava, ascending to 

 4,000 feet [J. Hooker]. A tree to 50 feet high, content with dry, 

 stony ground ; enduring slight frost. Wood so tough as to be 

 adapted for ploughs arid various machinery [Dr. Schlich]. The 

 succulent corolla affords a never-failing crop of nourishing saccharine 

 food to the rural inhabitants. Each tree supplies 2 to 3 cwt.; each 

 hundredweight yields on distillation about 3 gallons of spirits ; 

 essential oil is also obtained from the corolla. The flowers are also 

 used for feeding cattle ; they will keep for a long time. The seeds 

 yield oil of thick consistence. I. neriifolia is an allied species, which 

 ascends also to 4,000 feet. I. Erskineana and I. Maclayana 

 (F. v. M.), as well as I. Cocco (Scheffer) furnish good edible fruits in 

 New Guinea, where these trees ascend to some distance in the 

 mountain-regions. Gras alludes to six species in his essay of 1864; 

 he spells the name Illipe. 



