34 



SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



suffers from the night-frosts, although this does not mate- 

 rially injure the plant, which sends up fresh shoots, fit for 

 fibre, during the hot season. The plant has been cultivated 

 and distributed since 1854, in the Botanic Garden of 

 Melbourne, where it is readily propagated from cuttings, 

 the seeds ripening rarely there. Cordage of this Boehnieria is 

 three times as strong as that of hemp. Other species require 

 to be tested, among them the one which was recently dis- 

 covered in Lord Home's Island, namely Boehmeria calophleba. 



Bongardia Rauwolfi, C. A. Meyer. 



Prom Greece through Turkey to the Caucasus. A perennial 

 herb, the leaves of which are utilised like culinary sorrel. ■ 



Boronia megastigma, Nees. 



In West Australia on margins of swamps. This remarkable 

 bush is recorded here as an emblem of mourning, its external 

 blackish flowers rendering it especially eligible for graves. 

 Industrially it interests us on account of its powerfully 

 fragrant blossoms, for the sake of which this bush will 

 deserve to be cultivated. The scent might be extracted by 

 Mr. Bosisto's process. 



Borrago officinalis, Linne. 



South Europe, Orient. An annual herb, occasionally used 

 for medicinal purposes or as an admixture to salad. 



Boswellia papyrifera, A. Richard. 



Morocco, Nubia, and Abyssinia, forming entire forests about 

 Bertat on the Atlas. This tree exudes a kind of Olibanum 

 resin and represents apparently one of the hardest species of 

 this and allied genera. 



Bouteloua barbata, Lagasca. 



North and Central America. One of the Gramma-grasses of 

 the praiiies, called with some other species also Muskit-grass. 

 Annual. For nutritive value famed. 



Brabejum stellatifolium, Linne. 



South Africa. The nuts of this shrub are edible, resembling 

 those of our Macadamia ternifolia, to which also in foliage 

 and flowers Brabejum is closely allied. The nuts are also 

 similar to those of the Chilian Guevina Avellana. The fruit 

 should be roasted, as otherwise it is deleterious. 



Bracliy chiton acerifolium, F. v. Mueller. 



The East Australian Flame-tree. An evergreen shade-tree, 

 mth magnificent trusses of crimson blossoms. Like B. 

 populneum (R. Br.), eligible for promenade-lines, when 

 celerity of growth is no object. The mucilaginous sap, when 

 exuded, indurates to a kind of Tragacanth. 



