140 



SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



Nardostachys Jatamansi, Candolle. 



Mountains of Bengal and ISTepal. The Spikenard. A peren- 

 nial herb, famous already in ancient times as a medicinal 

 plant. Tlie root contains an ethereal oil and bitter principle. 

 This drug is often also obtained from N. grandiflora, Cand. 



Nelumbo lutea, Caspary.* (JVelumbium luteum, Willdenow.) 

 In North America, north to 44°; also in Jamaica. This mag- 

 nificent perennial water-plant carries with it the type of 

 Nelumbo nucifera, but seems more hardy and thus better 

 adapted for our latitudes, the Pythagorean Bean not descend- 

 ing in Australia naturally beyond the 23°, although also this 

 species may perhaps live in the warmer parts of our colony. 

 The tuberous roots of both species resemble the Sweet Potato 

 and are starchy ; the seeds are of particularly pleasant taste. 

 To ns the plants would be of great value as ornamental 

 aquatics. The leaves of N. lutea are from one to two feet in 

 diameter. The flowers measure one-half to one foot across. 

 The capsular fruit contains from twenty to forty nut-like 

 seeds. The plant in congenial spots displaces nearly all other 

 Avater- vegetation by the vigour of its growth. 



Nelumbo nucifera, Gaertner.'*^ {Nelunibium spedosum, Will- 

 denow.) 



The Pythagorean Bean. Egypt; at the Caspian and Ai-al 

 Seas (46° N.); Persia; through India, where in Cashmere it 

 occurs at an elevation of 5000 feet; Cliina; Japan; Amur; 

 (46° N.); tropical Australia as far south as 23°. The occur- 

 rence of this grand plant at the Ima, at Pekin and at Astra- 

 chan proves sufficiently, that we can naturalise it in Victoria. 

 The Nelumbo requires deep water with a muddy bottom. 

 The large white or rosy flowers are very fragrant. The seeds 

 retain their vitality for several years. According to the 

 ancient Egyptian method they are placed in balls of muddy 

 clay and chaff and then sunk into the water. 



Nephelium lappaceum, Linne. 



India. This tree furnishes the Pambutan or Pampostan 

 fruit, similar to the Litchi and Logan fruit. As one species 

 of Nephelium is indigenous as far south as Gipps Land, and 

 as all the species seem to require rather a moist mild forest- 

 clime than great atmospheric heat, we may hope to bring also 

 this tree here in favourable spots to perfect bearing. 



Nephelium Litchi, Cambessedes. 



South China, Cochin- Chin a and Philij)pine Islands. An 

 evergreen tree, producing the Litchi-fruit. The pulpy arillus 

 is of extremely pleasant taste, though not large. 



