Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 283 



Lepidosperma gladiatum, La Billardiere. 



The Sword-Sedge of the sea-coast of extra-tropical Australia. 

 One of the most important plants for binding sea-sand, also yielding 

 a paper-material as good as Sparta. Mr. Th. Christy has brought 

 the " Cross " process for textile fabrics or paper-pulp recently into 

 use, which consists in treating vegetable fibrous substances under 

 strong pressure (15-30 Ibs. per square inch) with water containing 

 about 3 per cent, of Thiolyte. L. laterale, with some allied flat- 

 stemmed species, is utilised by Australian native tribes for bags, 

 baskets and mats. It indicates water near the surface. 



Lepironia mucronata, Cl. Richard. 



East-Australia, Malayan Archipelagus, East-Indies, South- 

 China, Madagascar. This rush is cultivated (like rice) in China for 

 textile purposes, but in poor soils the manure impairs its strength. 

 The plant renews itself by sprouts from its perennial root. It attains 

 a height of seven feet ; the stems are beaten flat, to fit them to be 

 woven or plaited for either bed-mats and bags, or especially for mat- 

 sails, the latter being the most extensively used for the junks in 

 China ; further, the plant is utilised for making the floor-matting, 

 which is exported in vast quantities to the United States, to be used 

 in summer for the sake of coolness, in preference to carpets [Dr. 

 Hance]. This rush thus furnishes the raw material for a great 

 manufacturing industry. The dyeing of the mats yellow is effected 

 with the flowers of Sophora Japonica, under addition of alum ; green 

 with an acanthaceous plant, the Lam-yip (Blue Leaf), alum and 

 sulphate of copper [Dr. Hirst]. 



Leptorhabdos Benthamianus, Warpers. 



From Thibet to Persia, ascending to 11,000 feet. An annual 

 herb. One of the principal summer-fodders for sheep and goats 

 throughout the Juniper-forests of Beloochistan [J. H. Lace]. 



Leptospermum abnorme, F. v. Mueller. 



East- Australia, towards the coast. A tree, gaining finally a height 

 of 60 feet, with a stem-diameter to two feet. Wood very hard and 

 heavy. A variety produces fragrant foliage. 



Leptospermum Igevigatum, F. v. Mueller.* (Fabricia Icevigata, Gaertner.) 

 The " Sandstay." Sea-shores and sand-deserts of extra-tropical 

 Australia, but not extending to Western Australia. This shrub or 

 small tree is the most effectual of all for arresting the progress of 

 drift-sand in a warm clime. It is most easily raised by simply 

 scattering the seeds on the sand in autumn and covering them 

 loosely with boughs, or better still by spreading lopped-off branches 

 of the shrub itself, bearing ripe seeds, on the sand. ' 



