136 SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



marked varieties of this species, called mainly Peesangs in 

 India, are under cultivation there, especially on the Archipe- 

 lagus, while M. sapientum occurs wild more frequently on 

 the mainland. Though the latter is principally cultivated on 

 the Indian continent, yet it never equals in delicacy the cul- 

 tivated forms of M. simiarum, the fruit of which sometimes 

 attains a length of two feet (Kurz). 



Musa troglodytarum, Linne. {M. uranoscopos, Rumph.) 

 India, and apparently indigenous also in the Fiji and other 

 islands of the Pacific Ocean. The fruit-stalk of this species 

 stands upright ; the edible fruits are small, reddish, or orange- 

 coloured. The Chinese M. coccinea, Ait., a dwarf ornamental 

 species, has also the fruit-spike straight. 



Myoporum laetum, Forster. 



New Zealand, where it is called Ngaio by the aborigines. 

 As a shelter-tree it is equal to our M. insulare for the most 

 exposed parts of the coast. It is excellent for shade, and its 

 wood takes a fine polish. It can be raised on the beach from 

 cuttings. Uprooted it will produce new roots if covered in 

 near the sea. Sheep and horses browse on the foliage. 



Myrica cerifera, Linne. 



The Wax-Myrtle. Sandy sea-coast of North America. 

 This shrub helps to bind the rolling sand ; it has fragrant 

 leaves ; the fruits are boiled, and the floating wax, which can 

 be converted into candles, is skimmed off. 



Myrica cordifolia, Lume. 



South Africa. This bushy plant arrests the influx of the 

 sea-sand ; it also yields remuneratively wax from its fruits. 



Myrica Fay a, Alton. 



Madeira, Azores and Canary Islands. A small tree. The 

 drupaceous fruits are used for preserves. M. sapida, Wallich, 

 an Indian mountainous species, has also edible fruits. 



Myrica quercifolia, Linne. 



South Africa. This and M. cordifolia and the following are 

 the principal wax-bushes there. Many other species from 

 diflerent parts of the globe are available for trial-culture, but 

 none has as yet been discovered in Australia. 



Myrica serrata, Lamarck. 



South Africa. Shrub only about three feet high. The 

 Myrica-wax is heavier, harder and more brittle than 

 bees-wax, but melts easier. It is obtained from the fruits 

 throughout the cool season. The sowing of seeds is done 

 after the first rain of the cool months has steadied the sand. 



