Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 521 



Syncarpia laurifolia, Tenore. (Metrosideros glomulifera, Smith.) 



Queensland and New South Wales. Vernacular name, Turpen- 

 tine-tree ; attains a height of 200 feet, with a stem to 30 feet in 

 girth ; rather of quick growth ; well adapted to shade road-sides. 

 The wood is very durable, mostly used for flooring and cabinet- 

 making, as it takes a high polish [Hartmann] ; extremely durable, 

 of excellent qualities [A. McDowall]. One of the most valuable 

 known timbers for piles in salt or fresh water, used also for railway- 

 sleepers, ship-building, and other purposes requiring a strong durable 

 wood [Department of Mines of New South Wales]. Wood almost 

 fire-proof [Nilson]. 



Synoon glandulosum, A. de Jussieu. 



New South Wales and South-Queensland. This tall evergreen 

 tree deserves cultivation in sheltered warm forest-valleys on account 

 of its rose-coloured easily worked wood. Some species of Dysoxylon 

 of East- Australia also produce rose-wood, for instance, D. Frasera- 

 num (Bentham), of New South Wales, a tree reaching 100 feet in 

 height and 3 feet in stem-diameter, with fragrant wood, and D. 

 Muelleri (Bentham), 80 feet high ; the wood of the last-mentioned 

 species is of a rich colour, valuable for cabinet-work, and fetches in 

 Brisbane 3 to 4 per 1,000 feet [W. Hill]. 



Syringa vulgaris, Linn6. 



The Lilac. Asia Minor and Persia. This popular shrub can be 

 reckoned among the calendar- and scent-plants. Will live in some- 

 what saline soil [T. Kessal]. Keeping its odor well in bouquets. 

 The Syringin, discovered by Bernays, has been introduced into 

 medicine [Merck]. For chemical particulars about this glycosid 

 refer to Husemann and Hilger's Pflanzenstoffe 1884. 



Tacca pinnatifida, J. R. and G. Forster. 



From India to tropical Australia and Polynesia, also in Mada- 

 gascar. This perennial plant will live even on sand-shores. From 



, the tubers of this herb the main supply of the Fiji arro-root is 

 prepared. It is not unlikely, that this plant will endure a temper- 

 ate climate. The Tacca-starch is much valued in medicine, and 

 particularly used in cases of dysentery and diarrho3a. Its character- 

 istics are readily recognised under the microscope. Several other 

 kinds of Tacca are distinguished, but their specific limits are not 

 yet well ascertained. From the leaves and flower-stalks light kinds 

 of bonnets are plaited. A Tacca, occurring in Hawaii, yields a large 

 quantity of the so-called arrowroot exported thence. Other species 

 (including those of Ataccia) occur in India, Guinea, Guiana and 

 North-Brazil, all deserving tests in reference to their hardiness and 

 their value as starch-plants. 



