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SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



Peucedanum sativum, Bentham. {Pastinaca sativa, Linn^.) 

 The Parsnip. Europe, Noiiih and Middle Asia. Biennial. 

 The root palatable and nutritious. A somewhat calcareous 

 soil is favourable for the best development of this plant. The 

 culture is that of the carrot; for fodder, the root surpasses 

 that of the latter in augmenting milk (Langethal). 



Peucedanum Sekakul, Bentham. 



Egypt and Syria. Biennial. The root is edible. 



Peumus Boldus, Molina. 



The Boldo of Chili. A small ornamental evergreen tree, with 

 exceedingly hard wood, which is utilised for many kinds of 

 implements. The bark furnishes dye-material. The fruits 

 are of aromatic and sweet taste (Dr. Philippi). 



Phalaris Canariensis, Linne. 



The Canary-Grass. An annual grass from the Canary 

 Islands, now widely dispersed as a spontaneous plant over 

 the warmer zones of the globe. Thus it has also become 

 naturalised in Australia. It is gi'own for its seeds, which 

 form one of the best kinds of fodder for many sorts of small 

 cage-birds. The flour is utilised in certain processes of 

 cotton-manufacture, and liked for some kinds of cakes. The 

 soil for the culture of the Canary-gi^ass must be friable and 

 not too poor. It is an exhaustive crop. As allied annual 

 species of similar use, but mostly of less yield, may be enu- 

 merated: P. brachystachys (Link.) from Italy, P. minor 

 (Betz) and P. truncata (G-uss.) from various countries at the 

 Mediterranean Sea. Other species, including some from 

 Asia, are deserving of trial; but the perennial British P. 

 arundinacea (L.), is too hai^h to serve for wholesome fodder, 

 nor does it furnish Canary-seed. 



Phaseolus adenanthus, G. Meyer. (P. Truxillensis, Hum- 

 boldt; P. rostratus, Wallich.) 

 Almost cosmopolitan within the tropics, where irrespective 

 of navigation and other traffic it becomes dispersed by 

 migrating birds ; truly spontaneous also in tropical Australia. 

 A perennial herb with large flowers, resembling those of 

 Yigna vexillata (Benth.) Cultivated for its seeds, which are 

 rather small, but copiously produced. A variety with edible 

 roots occurs. 



Phaseolus COCCineus, Kniphof.* {P. mnltijlorus, Will- 

 denow.) 



The Turkish Bean or Scarlet-Bunner. A native of the 

 Orient, if Sprengel's identification is correct, according to 

 which this plant was known in Arabia and Persia at 

 Avicenna's time; but according to other opinions it is a 



