250 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



the manufacture o£ pianofortes and harps ; cuts into very good 

 screws, also presses, dairy utensils, windlasses, wheels, and 

 blocks. The young wood is silky white and often handsomely 

 mottled (Robb) . The tree likes alluvial river banks and has 

 been successfully planted in morassy places, to cope with mias- 

 matic effluvia. 



Platanus orientalis, Linne. 



The Plane Tree of South Europe and Middle Asia. One of 

 the grandest trees for lining roads and for street-planting, 

 deciduous like the other Planes, rather quick of growth, and 

 not requiring much water. Attains a height of 90 feet. 

 It resists, in large towns such as London, the smoke better 

 than any other tree, growing vigorously even under such 

 disadvantage. It is of several centuries' longevity. The wood 

 is well adapted for furniture and other kinds of cabinet-work. 



Platanus racemosa, Nuttall. 



The Californian Plane Tree. A good promenade-tree, which, 

 according to Professor Bolander, grows more rapidly and more 

 compact than P. occidentalis. Wood harder and thus more 

 durable than that of P. occidentalis, also less liable to warp. 

 According to Dr. Gibbons the tree attains a height of 100 

 feet and a diameter of 8 feet ; the wood is very brittle ; in use, 

 however, by turners. 



Plectocomia Himalaiana, Griffith. 



Sikkim, up to 7,000 feet, extending to 27° south latitude. 

 This Rattan Palm requires moist forest-land. Its canes are not 

 durable, but this Palm is an object worthy of scenic horticulture, 

 and would prove the hardiest among its congeners. P. elongata 

 ascends, according to Drude, to 4,500 feet. 



Plectocomia macrostachya, Kurz. 



Tenasserim, at 3,000 feet elevation, therefore most likely hardy 

 in temperate lowlands. 



Plectronia ventosa, Linne. 



South Africa. A hedge-bush, like P. ciliata (Sonder) and 

 P. spinosa (Klotzsch). 



Poa Abyssinica, Jacqvdn. 



The TefE of Abyssinia. An annual grass. The grain there 

 extensively use for bread of an agreeable acidulous taste. 



