580 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Xanthorrhiza apiifolia, L'Heritier. 



Eastern North- America. A perennial almost shrubby plant, of 

 medicinal value. The root produces a yellow pigment similar to that 

 of Hydrastis Canadensis. Both also contain berberin. 



Xanthorrhcea Tatei, F. v. Mueller. 



Kangaroo-Island. One of the largest of the so-called " Australian 

 Grass-trees," and one of the best for furnishing the fragrant resin of 

 this genus of plants, that product being in demand for incense, for 

 particular sorts of varnishes, for the manufacture of sealing-wax, for 

 picric acid, which its yields in large percentage, for colouring walls as 

 an admixture to lime, and for some other technologic purposes. Ap- 

 proximate London-price now 8 for the ton, according to Mr. Will. 

 Somerville. Resin is also commercially exported from X. australis 

 (R. Brown) of Tasmania and Victoria, from X. resinosa (Persoon) 

 of N.S. Wales and Queensland, from X. quadrangulata (F. v. M.) of 

 South- Australia from X. Preissii (Endlicher) of West- Australia, and 

 from X. hastilis (R. Brown) of New South Whales. Mechanical 

 redissemination should be effected, wherever the plants largely 

 become sacrificed for obtaining the resin, the annual collection of 

 which will yield a good and permanent income. For technologic 

 and geographic notes on various Xanthorrhoeas see also "Zeitschrift 

 des oesterreich. Apotheker-Vereins xxiii., 293-295 (1885)/' .As 

 regards their culture they require to be amply provided with soil, best 

 of a somewhat sandy and moory nature. X. quadrangulata can be 

 grown among rocks, X. Preissii on ordinary pasture-soil. 



Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Schott. 



West-Indies. The tubers are largely cultivated there and used as 

 an esculent like those as Colocasia. The plant may be as hardy as 

 the latter. 



Xanthoxylon piperitum, De Candolle. 



Used as a condiment in China and Japan. Fruit-capsules remark- 

 ably fragrant. 



Ximenia Americana, Linne. 



Tropical Asia, Africa and America, passing the tropics however 

 in Queensland, and gaining also an indigenous position in Florida. 

 This bush may therefore accommodate itself to cooler climes in locali- 

 ties free from frost. The fruits are edible, resembling yellow plums 

 in appearance ; their taste is agreeable. The wood is scented. In 

 Mexico called " Alvarillo del campo." Mr. P. O'Shanesy recom- 

 mended this shrub for hedges. 



Xylia dclabriformis, Bentham. 



The " Pyengadu " of India, extending to China and the Philippine- 

 Islands, ascending mountains to 3,000 feet. An Acacia-like tree, 

 attaining a height of about 120 feet, the stem often clear up to 



