PLANTS INTRODUCED INTO TEE VICTORIA GARDENS. 777 



35.^ Pandanos utilis, Bory (Pandane^).* This species of the Screw- 

 pine is native of Madagascar, where it is said to grow to a height of 60 feet. 

 It has large, glaucous, erect leaves armed with sharp red spines, and from its 

 bold and striking habit is suitable for a large vase on a terrace wall or lawn, 

 or as a single specimen on a lawn. It ia said to be a very common wild plant 

 in Mauritius, where it is called Vacua or Bacua, and is there cultivated for its 

 leaves, which are used together with those of other species in the manufac- 

 ture of the sacks in which sugar is exported. The materials of these sugar- 

 sacks are said to be afterwards re-nsed in making the fiat square fish-bags 

 commonly used in English Markets, The plants were raised from seeds 

 obtained from Messrs. Yilmorin Andrieux & Co., Paris, in 1897, and thrive 

 well in the open. 



36. Pandands PACiFicus, Veitch (Pandane^).! This species of pandanua 

 is a native of the Pacific Islands. The leaves are broad, shining green, having 

 the margins furnished with fine spines, and the tips narrowed abruptly to a 

 long, tail-like point. It was presented by the Superintendent of the State 

 Gardens, Baroda, and is suitable, like the other species, for growing in con- 

 servatories, in vases or on lawns, but cannot bear direct exposure to sun and 

 must be grown in a shady place. 



37. Piper oenatum, N. E. Br. (PiperacE;E).J An ornamental climbing 

 plant from Celebes in Malay Archipelago, suitable for growing on pillars in 

 conservatories on account of its beautifully-marked leaves, which are about 

 4 ioches by 5 inches, cordate, roundly ovate and bright green, marked with 

 pink spots. The plant was purchased from the Government Agri-Horticul- 

 tural Gardens, Lucknow, in 1900, and is doing well, but has not flowered yet. 

 It has been propagated by layering. 



38. Ilex paeaguayensis, St. Hilaire (Ilicike^).§ Mate or Paraguay 

 Tea. It is a small evergreen tree, native of Paraguay, with opposite, smooth, 

 serrate, shining green, obovate leaves, four or five inches long. The flowers 

 are said to be white, copiously produced in much branched racemes. The 

 leaves of this plant are extensively used in South America for the same 

 purpose as tea is used in the rest of the world. They contain the same active 

 principle as tea and coffee, viz., theine,and the infusion of the leaves is gently 

 stimulating and refreshing, especially after fatiguing journeys. The leaves are 

 prepared for the infusion by the branches being first roasted over a wood fire, 

 after which the leaves are knocked off and powdered. The powdered leaves 

 are then placed in a calabash called a mate and boiling water poured over 

 them. The infusion, which is also called mate, and which has a somewhat 



* The generic name from tbe Malayan name Fandang, and the specific name meaning 

 useful. 



t The specific name is after its native habitat. 



X The generic name from the old Latin name akin to the Greek peperi and Sanskrit ptp- 

 pala, and the specific name meaning ornamental. 



§ The genus from the Latin name given by Virgil to Quercus Ilex, and the specific name 

 after its native habitat. 



