154 SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



Panicum repens, Liime. 



At the Mediterranean Sea, also in South Asia and] North 

 Australia. Regarded |by the Cingalese as a good fodder- 

 grass. It is perennial and well-suited for naturalisation on 

 moist soil or river-banks or swamps. 



Panicum prostratum, Lamarck. (P. setigerum, Eetz.) 



Egypt, South Asia, North Australia, perhaps also indigenous, 

 to tropical America. Perennial. Recommendable for 

 pastures. 



Panicum sanguinale, Linne. 



From South Europe and Southern Asia spread through all 

 countries with a warm climate, but apparently also indi- 

 genous in East Australia. It readily disseminates itself on 

 barren ground, and is likely to add to the value of our 

 desert-pastures, although it is amiual. Stock relish this 

 grass. P. ciliare (L.) and P. glabrum (Gaudin) are allied 

 species. 



Panicum spectabile, Nees.* 



The Coapim of Angola. From West Africa transferred ta 

 many other tropical countries. A rather succulent very 

 fattening grass, attaining a height of about four feet. — It 

 may be assumed, that hitherto about 300 well-defined species 

 of Panicum are known, chiefly tropical and sub-tropical, thus 

 very few extending naturally to Europe, or the United 

 States of North America, or J apan, or the southern part of 

 Australia. Though mostly from the hot zones these grasses 

 endure in many instances our clime, and some of them would 

 prove great acquisitions, particularly the perennial species. 

 Numerous good kinds occur in Queensland and North 

 Australia spontaneously. Panicum is the genus richest in 

 species among grasses. 



Panicum turgidum, Forskael. 



Egypt, where this Millet yields a bread-grain. 



Panicum virgatum, Linne. 



North America, South Asia and North Australia. A tall 

 perennial species, with a wide nutritious panicle. 



Papaver somniferum, Linne.* 



The Opium-Poppy. Orient. The capsules of this tall 

 annual, so showy for its flowers, are used for medicinal pur- 

 poses; from the minute but exceedingly numerous seeds oil 

 of a harmless and most palatable kind can be pressed re- 

 muneratively; but a still more important use of the plant is 

 that for the preparation of Opium, of which a quantity 

 valued in the Customs returns at X94,455 was imported 

 during 1871 into Victoria, and this does not provide for a 



