310 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Mesembrianthemum edule, Linne.* 



The "Hottentot-fig" of South-Africa. Under the same ver- 

 nacular name is also comprised the distinct M. acinaciforme (Linne) 

 which however, as regards fruit is far inferior. Should be trans- 

 ferred to any of the most inhospitable desert-regions, as it affords in 

 the inner part of its fruit a really palatable and copious food. 

 Extensive naturalisation of this and other adequate plants on rocks 

 and bare soil would reduce the climatic temperature in hot and dry 

 tracts of Arabia and other countries, irrespective of affording fodder. 

 Recommendable for " Dead Valley " in Eastern California. It proved 

 hardy in Southern England. 



Mesembrianthemum floribundum, Haworth. 



South-Africa. This succulent perennial with many allied species 

 from the same part of the globe is a far more important plant than 

 might be assumed, because " a good stretch of this is worth as 

 much as a dam [Professor MacOwan]." Succulent plants like these 

 would live in sandy deserts, where storage of water may be 

 impracticable. 



Metrosideros tomentosa, Cunningham. 



Northern Island of New Zealand. Could be grown for timber 

 on rocky sea-shores. Height reaching about 80 feet ; trunk stout, 

 but comparatively short. The timber, according to Professor Kirk 

 deserves attention, as one of the most durable for the frame- work 

 in ship-building, for jetties, docks, sills. Other species with dense 

 wood, occurring in New Zealand, are M. lucida (Menzies) and M. 

 robusta (Cunn.), both ornamental trees with crimson flowers, called 

 Ratas by the Maories. 



Metrosideros polymorpha, Gaudichaud. 



Hawaian Islands to 6,000 feet altitude, Society- and Fiji-Islands, 

 Howe's Island. In Hawaia the most widely distributed tree. A 

 large tree, furnishing a hard, tough and very durable timber [Dr. 

 Hillebrand]. 



Michelia excelsa, Blume. 



In the Himalayas and other Indian mountains, up to 8,000 feet. 

 It grows to a large size, supplying boards to 3 feet in width, and 

 is one of the best timber-trees there. Foliage deciduous ; flowers 

 large, white ; wood yellowish. M. lanuginosa (Wallich) ascends 

 there also to temperate regions with M. Kisopa (Hamilton), M. 

 Cathcartii (Hooker and Thomson), M. Champaca (Linne), M. 

 Punduana (H. & Th.) and M. Nilagirica (Zenker), all being tall 

 trees. 



Micromeria Douglasii, Bentham. 



The " Yerba Buena." Western North-America. A perennial 

 herb of medicinal, particularly anthelminthic, properties. 



