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Ecballion Elaterium, Eichard. 
Mediterranean regions and Orient. The Squirting Cucumber. 
An annual. The powerful purgative Elaterium is prepared 
from the pulp of the fruit. Chemical principles : Elaterid, 
Elaterin, Hydroelaterin. 
Ehrharta Diplax, E. v. Mueller. 
{Microlaena avenacea, J. Hooker.) 
New Zealand. This tall perennial grass is fond of wood" 
lands and deserves introduction. It is likely to prove a rich 
pasture-grass. A fcAV other Australian species, particularly 
of the section Tetrarrhena, are readily accessible to us, and 
so indeed also the South African Ehrhartas, all adapted 
for our clime, the majority perennial and several of 
superior value. JElirliarta caiidata, Munro, is indigenous in 
Japan. 
Ehrbarta stipoides, Labillardiere. 
Extra-tropic Australia, also New Zealand. A perennial 
grass, which kee])s beautifully green all through the year. 
Eor this reason its growth for pasturage should be 
encouraged, particularly as it will live on poor soil. Mr. 
W. II. Bacchus, of Bacchus -Marsh, considers it nearly as 
valuable as Kangaroo- Grass, and in the cool season more 
so. He finds it to bear over-stocking better than any other 
native grass, and to maintain a close turf. It is however 
not always copiously seeding. 
Eleusine Coracana, Gaertner. 
Southern Asia, east to Japan. Though annual, this grass is 
worthy of cultivation on account of its height and nutri- 
tiveness. The large grains can be used like Millet. 
Eleusine stricta, Boxburgh. 
India. The increase of grain of this annual grass in rich 
soil is at times five hundredfold. E. Tocusso, Eresenius, is 
a valuable kind from Abyssinia, seemingly allied to E. 
stricta. The Arabian and Himalaian E. flagellifera, Nees, 
is perennial. Other species of Eleusine are deserving of 
trial. 
