70 SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



Dendrocalamus giganteus, Mimro. 



Malacca and the adjacent islands. Habit of Gigantochloa 

 maxima, therefore one of the mightiest of all Bamboos. 



Dendrocalamus strictus, ISTees. 



India, particularly Bengal. Grows on drier ground than. 

 Bambusa arundinacea. It is also smaller and quite straight. 

 Its strength and solidity render it fit for many select technic 

 purposes. 



Desmodium triflorum, Candolle. 



In tropical regions of Asia, Africa and America. A densely 

 matted perennial herb, alluded to on this occasion as recom- 

 mendable for places too hot for ordinary clover and as 

 representing a large genus of plants, many of which may 

 prove of pastoral value. Dr. Boxburgh already stated that 

 it helps to form the most beautiful turf in India, and that 

 cattle are very fond of this herb. Colonel Drury informs us, that 

 it is springing up in all soils and situations, supplying there 

 the place of Trifoliimi and Medicago. 



Digitalis purpurea, Linne. 



Greater part of Europe. The Foxglove. A biennial and 

 exceedingly beautiful lierb of great medicinal value, easily 

 raised. Chemical principles: Digitalin, Digital etin and three 

 peculiar acids. 



Dioscorea aculeata, Linne.* 



The Kaawi-Yam. India, Cochin- China, South Sea Islands. 

 Stem prickly, as the name implies, not angular. Leaves 

 alternate, undivided. It ripens later than the following 

 species, and requires no reeds for staking. It is propagated 

 from small tubers. This Yam is of a sweetish taste, and the 

 late Dr. Seemann regarded it as one of the finest esculent 

 roots of the globe. A variety of a bluish hue, cultivated in 

 Central America (for instance at Caracas), is of very delicious 

 taste. In the warmest parts of our colony this and the 

 following species are likely to come to perfection. 



Dioscorea alata, Linne.* 



The Uvi-Yam. India and South Sea Islands. The stems 

 are four-angled and not prickly. The tubers, of which there 

 are many varieties, will attain under favourable circumstances 

 a length of eight feet, and the prodigious weight of one 

 hundred pounds! This species, and the preceding one, are 

 the two principal kinds cultivated in tropical countries. 

 D. alata is in culture supported by reeds. It is propagated 

 from pieces of the old root, and comes in warm climes to 

 perfection in about seven months. The tubers may be baked 

 or boiled. It is this species, which has been successfully 



