34G 
seasons here, as a nile, are favorable for collecting Opium 
and thus this culture is here rendered less precarious than 
in many other countries. Our Opium has proved as good 
as the best Smyrna kinds. The petals are dried for packing 
the Opium, The main value of Opium depends on its con- 
tents of Morphia, for which the genus Papaver, as far as 
hitherto known, remains the sole source. But not less than 
eleven Alkaloids have been revealed in Opium by the pro- 
gressive strides of organic chemistry : Codein, Metamorphin, 
Morphia or Morphin, ISTarcein, ISTarcotin, Opianin, Papaverin, 
Porphyroxin, Pseudo-morphin and Thebain. It contains 
besides an indiiferent bitter principle : Meconin and 
Meconic Acid (Vide “ Wittstein’s Chemische Analyse von 
Pflauzentheilen.”) Various species of ' Papaver produce 
more or less Opium and Morphia. 
Parinarium Nonda, P- v. Mueller. 
The Nonda-tree of North-east Australia. It may prove 
hardy in East Gipps Land, and may live perhaps in the dry 
and hot air of our deserts, where it deserves trial-culture 
for the sake of its edible mealy plum-like fruit. A few 
other species with esculent drupes occur in dilferent tropical 
countries. 
Parkinsonia aculeata, L. 
From California to Monte Video. A thorny shrub, clearly 
adapted for the warmer parts of Victoria, where it might be 
utilized with the following plant for evergreen hedges. The 
flowers are handsome. 
Parkinsonia Africana, Sonder. 
South Africa. A tall bush. A third species, P. micropli/lJa, 
Torr., occurs on the Colorado. 
Paspalum distichum, Bunn. 
Prom ludia'to South-eastern Australia. A creeping swamp- 
grass, forming extensive cushions. It keeps beautifully 
green throughout the year, affords a sufficiently tender 
blade for feed, and is exqusitely adapted to cover silt or 
bare slopes on banks of ponds or rivers. 
