312 

 Indigofera Anil, L- 



Eecorded as indigenous to West India, and as extending 

 naturally through Continental America from Carolina to 

 Brazil. A shrub several feet high. Pods sickle-shaped, short? 

 compressed. One of the principal Indigo plants under culti- 

 vation both in the eastern and western hemispheres. Only 

 in the warmest parts of our Colony can we hope to produce 

 Indigo with remunerative success. But many of the hardier 

 species seem never yet tested for pigment. Already 114 

 are recorded alone from extra-tropical Southern Africa. An 

 Indigofera of Georgia, said to be wild, perhaps I. Anil, 

 yields an excellent product. The pigment in all instances 

 is obtained by maceration of the foliage, aeration of the 

 liquid and inspissation of the sediment. 



Indigofera argentea, L- (I. coerulea, Eoxb.) 



Tropical and extra-tropical Northern Africa, Arabia, India. 

 A shrub several feet high, closely allied to I. Anil, and like- 

 wise a good Indigo-plant. 



Indigofera tinctoria, I>- 



Warmest part of Asia, as far east as Japan, recorded also 

 from tropical Africa and even Natal. A shrubby plant, 

 attaining a height of G feet. Pods straight, cylindrical, 

 many-seeded. Extensively cultivated in warm zones for 

 Indigo, and probably hardy in our northern and eastern 

 lowland regions. 



Inula Helenium, £• 



The Elecampane. Middle and South Europe, Middle Asia 

 eastward to Japan. A perennial herb. The bitter and 

 somewhat aromatic root, for the sake of its stimulating and 

 tonic properties, is used in medicine. It contains also the 

 amylaceous Inulin and the crystalline Helenin. 



Ipomoea Batatas, Poiret.* (Batatas edulis, Choisy). 



The Sweet Potato. Tropical South America. First 

 brought to Europe from Brazil. It proved well adapted 

 also for our part of Australia and for New Zealand. The 

 tubers afford a patatable food, more nutritious than ordinary 

 potatoes. Varieties with red, white and yellow roots occur. 



