Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 309 



Menyanthes trifoliata Linne. 



Innappropriately called the Bog-bean or Buck-bean. Europe, 

 Northern and Middle Asia, North- America. In springy and spongy 

 bogs. A perennial herb of great beauty, which could be naturalised 

 with facility in any cold regions. Indigenous as far north as lat. 71 

 10' in Norway [Prof. Schuebeler]. The root is starchy. The 

 whole plant is pervaded by a bitter principle, largely derived from 

 menyanthin. The plant is used medicinally as a tonic and febrifuge. 



Meriandra Abyssinica, F. v. Mueller. (M. JSenghalensis, Bentham.) 



Abyssinia, on high mountains. A shrub of penetrating odor; 

 utilised much like sage. 



Mesembrianthemum sequilaterale, Haworth. 



Australia and West-coast of America. This widely creeping 

 species spreads readily over saline ground, whether clayey, sandy 

 or rocky. Mr. J. Clode observes, that sheep are very fond of this 

 succulent plant, and require but little water when browsing on it ; or 

 in cool coast-districts they will do without any water even in summer, 

 while thriving well on the foliage. In the "Elder" Exploring 

 Expedition, led by Mr. D. Lindsay, through the great South- West 

 desert of Australia during a 34 days' waterless stage this plant proved 

 of signal benefit to the dromedaries. Fruit with a sweetish edible 

 pulp. This species with M. Australe (Haworth) forms on the Aus- 

 tralian coasts one of the most effectual first impediments to the 

 influx of sea-sand; both should be encouraged in their growth at 

 the very edge of the tide. Not less hardy than M. edule. 



Mesembrianthemum Barklyi, N. Brown. 



Namaqua-land. About 2 feet high, but also widely creeping. 

 Leaves large, replete with aqueous sap, so much so, as to allay, 

 when consumed by pasture-animals, their thirst [Sir Henry Barkly]. 



Mesembrianthemum capitatum, Haworth. 



South-Africa. This perennial species, from the readiness and 

 quickness of its growth, and from the abundance of its seeds and 

 their easy dispersion, is one of the best for staying any rolling sea- 

 sand [Dickinson]. M. pugioniforme (Linne) and many other species 

 serve the same purpose. 



Mesembrianthemum crystallinum, Linne. 



The Ice-plant. Countries at the Mediterranean Sea and South- 

 Africa. Annual. Recently recommended as a spinach -plant. Can 

 be grown on bare sand, which it helps to cover. Eaten by sheep. 

 In Norway it will succeed northward to lat. 69 18'. 



