FOR VICTORIAN INDUSTRIAL CULTURE. 



107 



Hydrastis Canadensis, Linne. 



North America. The Yellow Poccoon. A perennial herb, 

 utilised in medicine. The root contains two alkaloids: 

 Berberin and Hydrastin. The root tinges brilliantly yellow, 

 admitting of its nse along with indigo for rich green colours. 



Hymenaea Courbaril, Linne. 



Tropical and Southern sub-tropical America. A tree of 

 colossal size and remarkable longevity. Timber hard, 

 extremely ponderous, close-grained, used for select wheel- 

 work, trenails, beams and planks in various machinery. A 

 fragrant amber-like resin, knoA\Ti as AVest India Copal, 

 exudes from the stem. The beans of the pod are lodged in a 

 mealy pulp of honey-like taste, which can be used for food. 

 The possibility of the adaptability of this remarkable 

 tree to the warmer parts of Victoria needs to be ascertained. 



Hymenanthera Banksii, F. v. Mueller. 



South-East Australia, New Zealand, ISTorfolk Island. A tall 

 spiny shrub, well-adapted for close hedges, where rapid 

 gTowth is not requii^ed. It stands clipping well. Flowers 

 profusely fragTant. 



Hyoscyamus niger, Linne. 



The Henbane. Eiu'ope, North Africa, extra-tropic Asia. 

 An important medicinal herb of one or two years' duration. 

 It contains a peculiar alkaloid : Hyoscyamin. 



Hyphaene Argun, Martins- 



Nubia. Probably hardy in the warmer parts of our colony. 



Hyphaene coriacea, Gaertner. 



Equatorial Eastern Africa. The dichotomous Palm of the 

 sea-coast regions. It attains a height of 80 feet. 



Hyphaene crinita, Gaertner. {H. Thehcdca, Martins.) 



Abyssinia, Nubia, Arabia and Egypt, as far as 31° N., and 

 southward to the Zambesi, Nyassa and Sofala. The Ginger- 

 bread-Palm or Doum-Palm. It is much branched and attains 

 a height of about 30 feet. The mealy husk of the fruit is 

 edible. Grows away from the sea. 



Hyphaene ventricosa. Kirk. 



Zambesi. Loftier than the other species. Stem tui'gid 

 towards the middle. Fruit large. 



Hypochoeris apargioides. Hooker and Arnott. 



Chili. A perennial herb. The root is used for culinary pur- 

 poses like that of the Scorzonera Hispanica. 



Hypochoeris Scorzonerae, F. von Mueller. {Achyrophorus 

 Scorzonerce, CandoUe.) 

 Chili. Of the same use as H. apargioides. Allied species of 

 probably similar utility exist in Western South America. 



