114 SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



Kentia sapida, Blume. 



The Nika-Palm of New Zealand and tlie Chatham Islands. 

 It also attains a height of fortj feet, and is one of the hardiest 

 of all Palms. The unexpanded flower-spikes can be converted 

 as Palm-cabbage into food. 



Koeleria cristata, Persoon. 



Widely dispersed over the globe. A perennial grass of fair 

 nutritive quality, sustaining itself on dry soil. The closely 

 allied K. glauca can be sown Avith advantage on coast-sand. 



Krameria triandra, Ruiz. 



Chili, Peru and Bolivia, at elevations from 3000 to 8000 feet. 

 This pretty little shrub can be grown on sandy ridges in an 

 equable clime. It produces the medicinal Batanhia root, 

 well-known also as a dentifrice. Some other species have 

 similarly astringent roots, particularly K. Ixine (Loefling), 

 from Central America and West India. Some could be 

 chosen to aid in adorning and diversifying our gardens. 



Lactuca sativa, Linne. 



South Asia. The ordinary annual Lettuce, in use since 

 remote antiquity. It is not without value, especially as a 

 sedative, for medicinal purposes. L. Scariola, Linne, seems 

 to be the wild state of the garden Lettuce. L. altissima, 

 Bieberstein, is a variety attaining a height of nine feet. 

 All yield Lactucarium. 



Lactuca virosa, Linne. 



Middle and South Europe, North Africa, Middle Asia. A 

 biennial. The inspissated juice of this Lettuce forms the 

 sedative Lactucarium. 



Lapageria rosea, Buiz and Pavon. 



Chili. A half- woody Climber with large showy flowers. The 

 berries, which are of the size of a hen's egg, are sweet and edible. 



Lardizabala biternata, Ruiz and Pavon. 



Chili. A climber with stems of enormous length. Might 

 be naturalised in our forests for obtaining the tough fibre for 

 cordage. In its native country the torrified stems are used 

 instead of ropes, according to Dr. PhiKppi. 



Laserpitium aquilegium, Murray. 



Middle and South Europe. The stems of this perennial 

 herb are edible. The fruits serve as a condiment. 



Lathyrus Cicera, Linne. 



Countries at or near the Mediterranean Sea; also, Canary 

 Islands. An annual, similar in its use to L. sativus, furnish- 

 ing a tender palatable fodder, on sandy soil. L. Clymenum, 

 L., from the same regions, serves similar purposes. 



