350 



Phalaris Canariensis, L. 



The Canary G-rass. An annual grass from the Canary 

 Islands, now widely dispersed as a spontaneous plant over 

 the warmer zones of the globe. Thus it has also become 

 naturalized in Australia. It is grown for its seeds, which 

 form one of the best kinds of fodder for many sorts of small 

 cage-birds. The flour is utilized in certain processes of 

 cotton manufacture, and liked for some kinds of cakes. The 

 soil for the culture of the Canary-grass must be friable and 

 not too poor. It is an exhaustive crop. As allied annual 

 species of similar use, but mostly of less yield, may be enu- 

 merated : P. hracliystachys Link., from Italy ; P. minor 

 Retz, and P. truncates, Gruss., from various countries at the 

 Mediterranean Sea. Other species, including some from 

 Asia, are deserving of trial; but the perennial British 

 P. arundinacea, L., is too harsh to serve for wholesome 

 fodder, nor does it furnish Canary seed. 



Phaseolus adenanthus, G-. Meyer. 



(P Truxillensis, Humb. P. rostratus, Wallich). 



Almost cosmopolitan within the tropics, where irrespective 

 of navigation and other traffic it becomes dispersed by 

 migrating birds ; truly spontaneous also in tropical Aus- 

 tralia. A perennial herb with large flowers, resembling 

 those of Vigna vsxillata, Benth. Cultivated for its seeds, 

 which are rather small ,but copiously produced. 



Phaseolus COCCineuS, Kniphof.* (P. multiflorus, Willd). 



The Turkish Bean or Scarlet-Bunner. A native of the 

 Orient, if Sprengel's identification is correct, according to 

 which this plant was known in Arabia and Persia at 

 Avicenna's time ; but according to other opinions it is a 

 native of Mexico. A twining showy perennial, as useful as 

 the ordinary French Bean. Its seeds usually larger than 

 those of the latter plant, purple with black dots, but some- 

 times also pure blue and again quite white. The flowers 

 occur sometimes white. The root contains a narcotic 

 poison. 



