I^^OSE OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 35^ 



and animals, and also for making artificial flowers. The plant 

 requires the protection of a greenhouse in this country, and pro- 

 pagates freely from suckers. It is now common in Australia 

 and other countries. 



Rimu, a name in New Zealand for Damydium cup^essmum, 

 a tree of the Yew family (Taxaceae), of pyramidal form, attain- 

 ing a height of 80 to 100 feet, and 2 to 6 feet in diameter; 

 its wood is red, close-grained, heavy, and solid, and is used for 

 general building purposes. Its younger branches make excel- 

 lent spruce beer, and were so used by Captain Cook. 



Rocambole (Alhtcm Scoi^odosprasum), Shallot [A, ascaloni- 

 mm), biennial cultivated esculents of the Lily family (Liliacese). 

 These have bulbs similar to garlic, but are much milder. They 

 are more extensively used on the Continent than in this country. 

 The last-named species is a native of Palestine, and derives its 

 specific name from Ascalon, where it grows in great abundance. 

 It has been cultivated from time immemorial by all the civilised 

 nations of the East, entering largely into their daily food. 

 It appears to have been used in England about the middle of 

 the sixteenth century, the onion probably at a much earlier 

 date- 

 Rock Lily, a name in New South Wales for DenclroUum sped" 

 osum, a plant of the Orchid family (Orchidaceae), growing upon 

 rocks. It has large pseudo-bulbs, the size of cucumbers, which 

 are said to be eaten by the natives; and white, showy flowers. 

 Rohun. {Sec Mahogany, Indian ) 



Room, or Roum, a name in Assam and other parts of India 

 for Rudlia tindoriu, a plant of the Acanthad family (Acanthacese). 

 By maceration of the stems and leaves in water, a blue dye is 

 obtained equal to indigo. In China a dye is also obtained from 

 a closely-allied species, H indigotica. 



Rose. — A nimiber of plants differing widely from one another 

 has received the name of Eose ; the true Eose being lepre- 

 sented by the species of the genus Rosa, consisting of nimierous 

 spiny, wing -leaved shrubs; the typical representative being 

 of the Eose family (Eosace^e), widely distributed over the tem- 



2 a 



