359 



Polygala Senega, L. 



North America. A perennial herb. The root is of medicinal 

 value ; its acrid principle is Saponin. 



Prangos pabularia, Lindley. 



Plateaus of Mongolia and Tibet. A perennial fodder-herb, 

 much relished by sheep, eligible for cold and arid localities, 

 and deserving naturalization on our alpine pasture-ground. 

 Other perennial species exist near the Mediterranean Sea 

 on the Atlas, the Caucasus and the Indian Highlands. P, 

 pabularia is regarded by some as the Silphium of Arrianus. 



Pringlea antiscorbutica, "W. Anderson and R. Br * 



The Cabbage or Horse-Radish of Kerguelen's Island. The 

 perennial long roots taste somewhat like Horse-Radish. The 

 leaves in never-ceasing growth are crowded cabbage-like 

 into heads, beneath which the annual flower-stalks arise. The 

 plant ascends mountains in its native island to the height oi 

 1400 feet, but luxuriates most on the sea-border. To Arctic 

 and other Antarctic countries it would be a boon. Probably it 

 would live not only on our shores, but also on our Alps. 

 Whalers might bring us the roots and seeds of this remark- 

 able plant, which seems to have never entered into culture 

 yet. Not even its flowers in a perfect state are known. 

 The plant was used by the celebrated Captain Cook and all 

 subsequent navigators, touching at yonder remote spot, 

 as Cabbage, and it proved to possess powerful properties 

 against scurvey. Dr. Hooker observes, that Pringlea can 

 sectionally be referred to Cochlearia. The whole plant is 

 rich in a pungent volatile oil. Through culture important 

 new culinary varieties may likely be raised from this plant. 

 The taste of this vegetable in its natural growth is like 

 Mustard and Cress, and the Kerguelen's Land Cabbage, 

 when boiled, proved a wholesome and agreeable substitute 

 for the ordinary Cabbage. 



Prosopis dulcis, Kunth. 



Prom Mexico to the southern parts of the La Plata States. 

 A thorny shrub, growing fiually to a tree, adapted for live- 

 fences. This is one of the species, yielding the sweetish 



