176 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
where all grasses or other plants tried for this purpose have failed. In Porto Rico | 
coarse grasses, such as ‘* guinea’’ and ‘‘ para”’ grass, are abundant, but lawns are 
uncommon, and perhaps Lippia may be found of use. Mr. Fairchild’s report on 
the subject is accordingly added: 
According to Ascherson and Schweinfurth the Lippia is a native of Egypt. It 
has probably been used for lawn purposes for a great many years. - 
It is a low, creeping plant of the Verbena family, with broad, flat, obovate 
leaves of a deep green color. The creeping stems throw out roots wherever they 
come in contact with the earth, and form thick mats of herbage. It is well known 
that in regions with climatic conditions similar to those of Egypt. grass lawns 
are generally very difficult to maintain. Although there are several substitutes 
for lawn grasses, none that I have seen are as good as Lippia. Owing to its rapid 
growth, the plant can be mown closely, and to a layman the lawn effects 
resemble closely those produced by English lawn grasses. 
In order to plant a lawn with Lippia the ground is prepared as it would be for 
the reception of grass seed. A mass of old Lippia is dug from some neighboring 
lawn or field. The native gardener cuts off or breaks off two or three long cut- 
tings of the plant, makes a hole with a pointed stick in the soft earth, thrusts the 
cuttings, doubled up, into the hole and packs the earth securely about them. 
These cuttings are placed about 4 to 6 inches apart, quite irregularly over the 
field. They are given plenty of water, being sprinkled every day until well 
started. In winter,in Egypt, the lawns made of this Lippia are watered every 
four to five days, while in summer they are kept green by daily waterings. Every 
twenty days the lawns are gone over with a scythe, and in this way kept quite 
closely mown. There is no evident reason why a lawn mower would not answer 
the purpose better than a scythe. 
Lawns of Lippia will last five to six years without renewing. Whenever a patch 
gets old or is injured by the shade of some tree. it is very easily repaired by set- 
ting new cuttings. 
While, according to the statement of Mr. Colombo, of the Gizeh Gardens, no 
grasses form in Cairo a real sod, this plant produces a permanent sod lasting five 
to six years. 
The Lippia deserves a thorough trial asa lawn plant in Southern California, 
Arizona, Texas, and Florida. Just what degree of hardiness it will show remains 
tobeseen. Itisnotexposed toa temperature below freezing here in Cairo, except 
at extremely long intervals. Whether it is injured then or not I have been unable 
to ascertain. Although, during the hottest part of the summer, the lawns of 
Lippia wear a much less vigorous look than they do in winter, yet, from the fact 
that they are able to withstand the extreme heat and dryness of the Egvptian 
summer, it is evident that the plant is well suited for hot, dry climates. It is to 
be hoped this will prove a valuable new lawn plant for the parks and gardens of 
the South. 
It is well to note that this plant is already quite commonly introduced, espe- 
cially in the Southern States. It occurs in low, moist situations, from North 
Carolina to Florida, Texas, and Missouri, and is also present in California. So far 
as known it has not been utilized as a lawn plant in this country, although it is 
recognized as haying some yalue as a sand-binder on the South Atlantic and Gulf 
coasts. 
Lippia reptans. CrprRon. 
(Stahl 6: 210.) 
Licorice weed. See Scoparia dulcis. 
Lira. See Hibiscus schizopetalus. 
Litchi. See Litchi chinensis. 
Litchi chinensis. Lircut. 
An important fruit in Southern China, British India, and the Malay Peninsula. 
The tree is described as a handsome evergreen, and, although it can be success- — 
fully propagated only by layering, it is reasonably hardy when once established. 
Writing from the standpoint of the northwest provinces of India, Dr. Bonavia, 
the fruit expert, says: 
~ 
Here, then, is a fruit tree which resists the heaviest rains and stands the hottest 
winds, and also the frosts of these provinces, Moreover, it bears annually an 
abundant crop of fine, well-flavored, and aromatic fruit, which can readily be sent 
to distant markets without injury. Instead of being planted by the one or two, 
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