17 
GRAMINEF. 
Miscanthus sinensis, Anders. [Eulalia japonica, Trin.|—Brushes 
made of the roots, which somewhat resemble Venetian or French 
Whisk ( Chrysopogon Gryllus, Trin.). 
Carved ornamental box made of one joint of Bamboo, the nodes : 
forming the ends. The lid is closed by an ingenious contrivance of 
. the hand 
FILices. 
Gleichenia glauca, Sw.—F ancy tray and nest of tea boxes formed 
of the leaf stalks of "this fern; the tea boxes are lined with tin. 
These specimens illustrate a new application for this order of plants, 
and form an interesting addition to our collections. 
Osmunda regalis, L.—Rhizome, used as food in Japan; it is boiled 
in soy (a kind of sauce prepared from the seeds of Glycine hispida, 
Maxim.) and eaten with salt. 
Pteris aquilina, L.—The rhizome of this species is also used as food 
in Japan. Specimens as used, and rope made of the stems, used by 
gardeners, are contained in the collection. 
CCCLVIII.—DIAGNOSES AFRICANA, I. 
The Flora of Tropical Africa was commenced by Professor Oliver, 
F.R.S., the late keeper of the Herbarium and Library of the 
Its general plan was uniform with that of the series of 
Colonial Floras which, at intervals during the last 30 years, have 
been prepared at Kew. Vol. I. was issued in 1868; Vol. II. in 1871 ; 
and Vol. {II. in 1877. The different orders were elaborated either by 
Professor Oliver himself or by other botanists. 
,n the preface to Vol. I., Professor Oliver, writing in 1868, writes :— 
The more original feature of the * Flora of Tropical Africa’ is based 
upon the very extensive collection that have accumulated at Kew 
“ during the last 10 years, sent home by the botanists and collectors 
vd rte to various scientific cat exploratory journeys in Tropical — 
“ Afric : 
[1 
the date of dept of the last volume, the enormous 
diveedopaibat of the Herbarium, and the pressin ; of keepin 
fresh accessions determined peut and incorporated in it, has 
left the staff no time for other work, and such extraneous aid as was 
available has been tents absorbed in assisting Sir Joseph Hooker in 
is Flora of British India, now approaching Ss Se and in other 
andere ngs. 
The recent delimitation of ves spheres of influence of the various 
European Powers in Tropical Africa has given necessarily an increased 
rime to e E and com sonia enterprise, and this in turn has 
o the Government the , desirability of resuming work upon  . 
the * Flora T Tropical Africa.” The following correspondence has — 
taken place upon the subject :— ue 
U 79905. P 
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