IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 305 



same meritorious writer singles out Schizostachyum brachy- 

 cladunij the varieties of Bambusa vulgaris, with gaudy, glossy 

 colouring of the stems, in contrast with the blaek-stemmed 

 species of Phyllostachys from China and Japan. 



Schizostachyum irratum, Steudel. 



Sunda Islands and Moluccas, Stems to 30 feet high, re- 

 markably slender. 



Schizostachyum ZoUingeri, Steudel. 



Hills of Java. Much cultivated. Height up to 35 feet, stems 

 slender. 



Schkuhria abrotanioides, Both. 



From Peru to Argentina. This annual herb yields locally an 

 insecticidal powder. 



Schoenocaulon officinale, A. Gray. (Asa Gray a officinalis, Lind- 

 ley ; Sabadilla officinalis, Brandt and Dierbach.) 



Mountains of Mexico. A bulbous -rooted herb with' leafless 

 stem, thus far specially distinct from any Veratrum. It fur- 

 nishes the Sabadilla seeds and yields two alkaloids, veratrin 

 and sabadilliuj a resinous substance, helonin; also sabadil- 

 lic and veratric acid. The generic names adopted for this 

 plant by Lindley and by Lierbach are coetaneous. 



Sciadopitys verticillata, Siebold. 



The lofty and curious Umbrella Fir of Japan, 140 feet high, 

 pyramidal in habit. Resists severe frosts. Wood white and 

 compact. 



Scilla esculeuta, Ker. (Camassia esculenta, Lindley.) 



The Quamash. In the western extra-tropical parts of North 

 America, on moist prairies. The onion-like bulbs in a roasted 

 state form a considerable portion of the vegetable food on 

 which the aboriginal tribes of that part of the globe are living. 

 It is a pretty plant and might be naturalised on moist mea- 

 dows: 



Sclerachne cyathopoda, F. v. Mueller. 



Tropical and sub-tropical Australia. A perennial grass, valu- 

 able according to Mr. P. O'Shanesy for green feed, yielding a 

 large retm-n. 



