124 



SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



Maharanga Emodi, A. de Candolle. 



Nepal. The root produces like that of Alkamia tinctoria a 

 red dye. 



Mallotus Philippinensis, J. M. {Rottlera tinctoria, Rox- 

 burgh.) 



South Asia and East Australia, in jungle-country, extending 

 into New South Wales. Though not of great importance 

 this bush should not be passed on this occasion, inasmuch as 

 the powdery substance investing the seed capsules constitutes 

 the Kamala, which can be employed not only as an orange 

 dye, but also as an anthelmintic remedy. The Hindoo silk- 

 dyers use it for an orange colour, obtained by boiling the 

 Kamala with carbonate of soda. 



Mangifera Indica, Linne. 



South Asia. An evergreen tree, up to 70 feet high. Possibly 

 the Mango Tree could be made to bear its delicious fruit in 

 the warm and humid forest regions of East Gippsland. In 

 the Himalayas its culture for fruit ascends to 3500 feet. 



Manihot Aipi, Pohl. 



The Sweet Cassava. Tropical South America, but traced as 

 far south as the Parana River. The root is reddish and 

 harmless; it can therefore be used, unlike those of the follow- 

 ing s]oecies, without any further preparations than boiling as 

 a culinary esculent, irrespective of its starch being also avail- 

 able for Tapioca. Both are somewhat woody plants, several 

 feet high, and they are too important to be left altogether 

 unnoticed on this occasion, although we have no evidence 

 that they will prove productive even in those parts of Vic- 

 toria which are free of frost. The Aipi has ligneous tough 

 fibres, stretching along the axis of the tubers, while generally 

 the roots of the following species are free of this central 

 woody substance. 



Manihot utilissima, Pohl. 



The Bitter Cassava or Tapioca-plant. Tropical South 

 America. Closely allied to the former, producing varieties 

 with roots of poisonous acridity, and with tubers perfectly 

 harmless. The tubers attain a length of three feet ; they can 

 be converted into bread or cakes, the volatile poison of the 

 milky sap being destroyed through pressing of the grated 

 root in first instance, and the remaining acridity is expelled 

 by the heating process. The starch, heated in a moist state, 

 furnishes the Tapioca. Manihot is abundantly cultivated at 

 Caracas, where the singularly uniform temperature through- 

 out the year is only 60° to 70° F. It is a very exhausting 

 crop, and stands thus in need of rich soil and manuring. 

 The propagation is effected by cuttings froui the ligneous 



