Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 421 



Pringlea antiscorbutica, W. Anderson and R. Brown. 



The Cabbage or Horse -radish of Kerguelen's Island. Also on 

 Possession-Island of the Crozets, on Prince Edward Group and 

 Heard-Island. The perennial long roots taste some\#iat like horse- 

 radish. The leaves in never-ceasing growth are crowded cabbage- 

 like into heads, beneath which the annual flower-stalks arise. The 

 plant ascends mountains in its desolate native islands to the height 

 of 1,400 feet, but luxuriates most on the sea-border. To arctic 

 and other antarctic countries it would be a boon. Probably it would 

 live on our Alps. Whalers might bring us the roots and seeds of 

 this remarkable plant, which seems never to have entered into 

 culture yet. The plant was used as cabbage by the celebrated 

 Captain Cook and all subsequent navigators, touching at yonder 

 remote spot, and it proved to possess powerful properties against 

 scurvy. Sir Joseph Hooker observes, that Pringlea can sectionally be 

 referred to Cochlearia. The whole plant is rich in a pungent volatile 

 oil. Through culture important new culinary varieties may probably 

 be raised from this plant. This vegetable in its natural growth 

 tastes like mustard and cress ; but when boiled it proved a wholesome 

 and agreeable substitute for the ordinary cabbage. 



Pritchardia Gaudichaudi, H. Wendland. 



Lowlands of Hawaia. Stem to 20 feet high, stout, Leaves large. 

 Fruit small. 



Pritchardia Martii, H. Wendland. 



Hawaia. A rather dwarf palm, but with comparatively large fruits, 

 perhaps hardier than P. pacifica (Seemann) of the more equatorial 

 parts of Polynesia. 



Pritchardia Thurstoni, F. v. Mueller and Drude. 



Fiji. This palm occurs only on low bare coral islets of the 

 eastern group [Sir John Thurston]. 



Priva Isevis, Jussieu. 



Chili, Argentina. A perennial herb, the small tubers of which 

 can be used for food [Philippi]. 



Prosopis alba, Grisebach. 



La Plata States. A tree, rising finally to about 40 feet, with a 

 stem-diameter to 3 feet. The fruit, known as Algaroba blanca, is 

 considered wholesome and nutritious. The tree yields also tan-bark. 

 P. nigra (Hieronymus) serves in Argentina similar purposes. 



Prosopis dulcis, Kunth. 



From California and Texas to the southern parts of the La Plata- 

 States. Vernacularly known as the Cashaw-, Mesquite- or Algaroba- 

 tree. A thorny shrub, growing finally to a tree of 60 feet high, 



