3S9 
Scorzonera Hispanica, L * 
Middle and South Europe, Orient. The perennial root of 
this yellow-flowered herb furnishes not only a wholesome 
and palatable food, but also series as a therapeutic remedy 
much like Dandelion. Long boiling destroys its medicinal 
value. Some other kinds of Scorzonera may perhaps be 
drawn into similar use, there being many Asiatic species. 
Scorzonera tuberosa, Pallas. 
At the Wolga and in Syria. Also this species yields an 
edible root, and so perhaps the Chinese S. albicaulis, Bunge; 
the Persian Sc. Scowitzii, Cand., the North African 8c. 
undulata, Vahl., the Glreek 8c. ramosa, Sibth., the Bussian 
Sc. Astrachanica, Cand., the Turkish 8c. semicana, Cand., the 
Iberian Sc. lanata, Bieberst. At all events careful culture 
may render them valuable esculents. 
Sebsea ovata, B- Brown. 
Extra-tropic Australia and New Zealand. This neat little 
annual herb can be utilized for its bitter tonic principle 
(Gentian-bitter) . S. alhidijlora, E. v. M., is an allied species 
from somewhat saline ground. These plants disseminate 
themselves most readily. 
Secale cereale, L.* 
The Eye. Orient, but perhaps wild only in the country 
between the Caspian and Black Seas. Mentioned here as 
the hardiest of all grain-plants for our highest alpine regions. 
There are annual and biennial varieties, while a few allied 
species, hitherto not generally used for fodder or cereal 
culture, are perennial. The Eye, though not so nutritious 
as wheat, furnishes a most wholesome well-flavored bread, 
which keeps for many days, and is most extensively used in 
Middle and North Europe and Asia. This grain moreover 
can be reared in poor soil and cold climates, where Wheat 
will no longer thrive. In produce of grain Eye is not inferior 
to Wheat in colder countries, while the y ield of straw is 
larger, and the culture less exhaustive. It is a hardy cereal, 
not readily subject to disease, and can be grown on some 
kinds of peaty or sandy or moory ground. The sowing 
