326 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Nageia Thunbergi, F. v. Mueller. (Podocarpus Thunbergi, Hooker.) 



South- Africa. Superior to N. pruinosa (E. Meyer) and even N. 

 elongata in the quality of its wood ; it is bright-yellow, fine-grained, 

 and very handsome when polished [Dr. Pappe]. Always a smaller 

 tree than N. elongata according to Mr. Will. Tuck. 



Nageia Totara, F. v. Mueller.* (Podocarpus Totara, G. Bennett.) 



New Zealand. A fine tree, to 120 feet high, with a stem reaching 

 20 feet in circumference ; it is called Mahogany -pine by the colonists. 

 The reddish, close-grained and durable wood is easily worked, valu- 

 able both for building and for furniture, and also extensively used for 

 telegraph posts ; indeed it is considered one of the most valuable 

 timbers of New Zealand, though it is somewhat brittle. Chosen for 

 piles of bridges, wharfs and jetties and in other naval architecture ; 

 the heart-wood resists decay and the attacks of the Teredo for a long 

 time, according to Professor Kirk. It ranks below Kauri in strength, 

 but equals it in durability. It is one of the most lasting woods for 

 railway-sleepers, but the sap-wood should be taken off. When used 

 for piles, the bark should not be removed from the timber. It is the 

 most easily cultivated of all New Zealand conifers at Port Phillip. 

 Many other tall timber-trees of the genus Podocarpus or Nageia occur 

 in various parts of Asia, Africa and America, doubtless all desirable; 

 but the quality of their timber is not well known, though likely in 

 many cases excellent. Nageia is by far the oldest published name of 

 the genus. 



Nardostachys Jatamansi, De Candolle. 



Mountains from Bengal to Nepal, at elevations from 11,000 to 

 17,000 feet [J. Hooker]. " The Spikenard/' A perennial herb, 

 famous in ancient times as a medicinal plant. The root contains an 

 ethereal oil and bitter principle. 



Nastus Borbonicus, J. F. Gmelin. 



Reunion, where it forms a belt all round the mountains of the island, 

 in a zone of 3-4,000 feet. This beautiful bamboo grows to a height 

 of about 50 feet [General Munro]. A second species, namely, N. 

 capitatus (Kunth), occurs in Madagascar. 



Nelumbo lutea, Caspary.* (NelumUum luteum, Willdenow.) 



The Water-Chinquepin. In Eastern North- America, northward 

 to 44 ; also in Jamaica. This magnificent perennial water-plant 

 carries with it the type of Nelumbo nucifera, but seems more hardy, 

 and thus better adapted for extra-tropical latitudes, the Pythagorean 

 Bean not descending in Australia naturally beyond 23", although 

 this species also may perhaps be able to live in the warmer parts 

 of the temperate zone. The tuberous roots of both species resemble 

 somewhat the Sweet Potato and are starchy ; the seeds are of par- 

 ticularly pleasant taste. The plants would be of great value as 



