472 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Rosa villosa, Linne". (R. pomifera, Hermann.) 



Europe and Western Asia. Fit even for the coldest regions of the 

 world. The smooth-fruited variety is best eligible as an esculent 

 and rivals that of R. rugosa. 



Rosmarinus officinalis, Linne". 



The Rosemary. Countries around the Mediterranean Sea, extend- 

 ing to Switzerland. This well-known bush is mentioned here as a 

 medicinal plant. One of our best plants for large garden-edgings 

 The oil distilled from its foliage enters into certain compositions of 

 perfumery ; 1 cwt. of fresh herb yields about 24 ounces of oil 

 [Piesse]. The flowers are much sought by bees. Vilmorin states, 

 that the seeds will keep for about four years ; but the propagation 

 from cuttings is easy also. Branches of this shrub will keep off 

 moths from wearing-apparel packed away. 



Rottboellia ophiuroides, Bentham. 



Tropical East- Australia. A tall perennial grass, praised by Mr. 

 Walter Hill for fodder. Hardy in regions free of frost. 



Royenia Pseudebenus, E. Meyer. 



South-Africa. Only a small tree, but its wood jet-black, hard 

 and durable ; in Capeland and KafFraria called ebony. R. pubescens 

 (Willdenow), according to Dr Pappe, furnishes there a wood adapted 

 for xylography ; this may give a clue to the adaptability of many 

 other kinds of woods in the large order of Ebenaceae as substitutes 

 for the Turkish boxwood. 



Rubia COrdifolia, Linne". (R. Mungista, Roxburgh.) 



From the Indian highlands through China and Siberia to Japan ; 

 also occurring in various parts of Africa, as far south as Kaffraria 

 and Natal. This perennial plant produces a kind of madder. Pro- 

 bably other species likewise yield dye-roots. ( The genus is represented 

 widely over the globe, but as far as known not in Australia. 



Rubia peregrina, Linne". 



Middle and Southern Europe, South- Western Asia. This perennial 

 species also yields madder-root. Several other kinds deserve com- 

 parative test-culture. 



Rubia tinctorum, Linne". 



The Madder. Countries at the Mediterranean Sea, extending to 

 temperate Western Asia. Hardy still at Christiania. A perennial 

 herb of extremely easy culture. Soil, fit for barley, is also suitable 



