26 



CASE ^^^^^^ ^^ Grass Trees, and in Western Australia and Western 

 no South Australia the arboreus species are sometimes known 

 as Black Boys, and form a conspicuous feature in the 

 landscape. The resin is exuded spontaneously from the bases 

 of the old leaves, and often coats a considerable portion of the 

 stem. Some kinds are of an orange-yellow colour, while others 

 are more or less red. They have been used for making spirit 

 varnishes, and for staining wood. 



In the centre of the Case observe a very fine block of 

 Xanthorrhop.a resin from Victoria, and in the lower part of the 

 Case some stems of the above-named species. 



CASE Further examples are shown in Case 24, which is occupied 



24. by large stems and flower spikes oi Xanthorrhcea arborea, R.Br., 



and an allied Australian plant, Kingia australis, R. Br. 



Some fine trunks of Xanthorrhcea and Kingia are exhibited in 



Museum No. III. 



CASE No. 46. Split rushes {Juncus effusus, L.), prepared for 

 26. wicks for rush lights, and Ancient Rush Holder, used in 

 Hampshire for holding rush lights before tlie general introduction 

 of candles. • 



In the lower part of this Case is a meal bag made- of the 

 culms of the Common Rush, formerly used in the Island of 

 Lewis. The manufacture appears now to have died out. 

 Rushes are still largely used for chair bottoms. 



No. 47., JuNCio. Rush matting made of the culms of 

 J. mnritwms, Lam. Plain and coloured, from San Fernando, 

 Spain. Also a Moorish mat, made from the same plant, from 

 Morocco. V 



No. 48. Palmite {Prionium Falmita^ E. Mey.)- A 

 native of South Africa in marshy situations. The heart, or 

 cabbage, near the summit is edible. The leaves are used for 

 thatching, plaiting, and basket work, and the strong fibrous 

 network at the base of the old leaves has been used for brushes, 

 ropes, stuffing mattresses, and was at one time proposed for 

 paper-making. A hat and other articles made of the leaves and 

 fibre are shown. 



CASE Palm Order {PalmecB). Perennial woody plants, 



26. mostly attaining the size of large trees, with a crown of spreading 



fan-shaped or feathery leaves. They are almost exclusively 



tropical, a few species only extending into cool countries. They 



are very important economic plants, and furnish the daily food, 



