Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries: 359 



Parrotia Jacquemontiana, Decaisne. 



North- Western Himalayas, from about 3,000 to 8,500 feet eleva- 

 tion. This deciduous-leaved small tree merits attention. Its tough 

 and pliable twigs are used for basket-work and preferred for twig- 

 bridges, the latter sometimes 300 feet long ; hence this tree could 

 be used for a variety of economic purposes [Stewart and Brandis]. 

 One of the best woods for walking-sticks and particularly Alp-sticks. 

 P. Persica (C. A. Meyer) occurs on the Caspian Sea. 



Parthenium integrifolium, Linne. 



Eastern North-America. The flowering tops of this perennial 

 bitter herb have come into use as a febrifuge [Houlton"]. 



Paspalum ciliatum, Humboldt. 



Tropical South- America. A perennial and lauded cereal grass. 



Paspalum conjugatum, Bergius. 



South- America. Considered in India to be a good fodder-grass 

 [H. N. Ridley]. 



Paspalum dilatatum, Poiret. (P. ovatum, Trinius.) 



North- and South- America into extra-tropical latitudes. Perennial ; 

 of excellent quality for fodder ; keeps green during the hottest 

 summer-time. Mr. Bacchus found it hardy up to a height of 2,000 

 feet in Victoria. It grew 4J feet in little more than two months in 

 New South Wales, after drought was followed by heavy rains. It is 

 closely allied to the Mexican P. virgatum, L. Introduced into Aus- 

 tralia by the writer with many other fodder-grasses. Reported to 

 have extraordinary drought-resistance [W. Farrer]. 



Paspalum distichum, Linn4.* 



The " Silt-Grass." North- and South- America, except the colder 

 regions ; elsewhere probably introduced, though now widely natural- 

 ised also in the warmer coast-tracts of the eastern hemisphere. 

 Possibly indigenous to Australia also. Endures some frost. Will 

 submit to temporary inundation ; will grow half emerging in shallow 

 pools or on wet meadows, and proves quickly fattening to cattle 

 [A. R. Crawford]. A creeping bank- or swamp-grasss, forming 

 extensive cushions. It keeps beautifully green throughout the year, 

 affords a sufficiently tender blade for feed, and is exquisitely adapted 

 to cover silt or bare slopes on banks of ponds or rivers, where it 

 grows grandly ; moderate submersion does not destroy it, but frost 

 injures it ; it thrives well also on salt-marshes. Excellent for fern- 

 tree-tubs to produce a green sward and some overdrooping foliage. 

 The chemical analysis made in spring gave the following results : 

 Albumen 2'20, gluten I'll, starch T56, gum 1'64, sugar o'OO (F. v. 

 Mueller and L. Rummel). 



