154 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



latitude, and southward to the Zambesi, Nyassa, and Sofala.. 

 In Arabia to 28° north latitude fSohweinfurth), up to the 

 plateaux of Abyssinia (Drude). The Gingerbread Palm or 

 Doum Palm. It is much branched and attains a height of 

 about 30 feet. The mealy husk of the fruit is edible. Grows 

 away from the sea. 



Hyphsene ventricosa, Kirk. 



Zambesi. Loftier than the other species. Stem turgid to- 

 wards the middle. Fruit large. 



Hypochoeris apargioides, Hooker and Amott. 



Chili. A perennial herb. The root is used for culinary pur- 

 poses like that of the Scorzonera Hispanica. 



Hypochoeris ScorzonersB, P. v. Mueller, {Ackyroj^Mrus Scorzo- 

 nerm, CandoUe.) 



Chili. Of the same use as H. apargioides. Allied species of 

 probably similar utility exist in Western South America. 



Ilex Cassine, Linne. 



Southern States of North America. A Tea bush, to which 

 also remarkable medicinal properties are ascribed. 



Ilex Paragfuensis, St. HUaire. 



Uruguay, Paraguay, and Southern BrazU. The Matd. This 

 Holly bush, which attains the size of a small tree, is inserted 

 in this list rather as a stimulating medicinal plant than as a 

 substitute for the ordinary Tea plant, although in its native 

 country it is very extensively used for this purpose. From 

 the province of Parana alone there were exported more than 

 36 mUhon pounds in 1871, besides 9 million pounds used for 

 home consumption ; while in Rio Grande de Sul the local pro- 

 vincial consumption is nearly four times as much, not counting 

 large quantities consumed by the aboriginal race. It is 

 cheaper than coffee or tea (about hd. per pound), and an indi- 

 vidual there uses about 1 lb. per week. It has a pleasant 

 aroma, and can be taken with milk and sugar. It is the 

 favourite beverage in large portions of South America (Dr. 

 Macedo Soares) . The leaves destined for the Mate are slightly 

 roasted. I. Dahoon and I. dipyrena are used for the same 

 purpose, and probably other hollies may be found equally 

 good. Chemical principles : coffein, quina acid, and a pecu- 

 liar tannic acid, which latter can be converted into viridin 

 acid. 



