SELECT PLANTS. 
201 
Australia and New Zealand ; Cyathea dealbata, the silvery tree- 
fern, and C. Smithii, also of New Zealand, because their transit 
in an up- grown state is not attended with the same difficulty as 
that of the tall Alsophila australis (which attains 60 feet) ; they 
are also among the hardiest of this noble kind of plants. An- 
thelminthic properties, which may exist in these and many other 
ferns, have not yet been searched for. The dust-like spores should 
be scattered through moist forest valleys, to ensure new supplies 
of these superb forms of vegetation for the next century. D. 
JBillardierii ( Cibotium Billardierii, Kaulf,) is nowhere antarctic. 
Dirca palustris, Linne. 
North America. An ornamental forest shrub, the tough hark of 
which is serviceable for straps and whipcords. 
Duboisia Hopwoodii, E. v. Mueller. 
The Pitury. Inland desert regions from New South Wales and 
Queensland to near the West Coast of Australia. This shrub 
deserves cultivation on account of its highly stimulating pro- 
perties ; it has also come into use for opthalmic surgery (Bin- 
croft, Rudall) with D. myoporoides of East Australia and New 
Caledonia. The alkaloid of the latter, Duboisin, may prove 
identical with the Piturin of Staiger. 
Erianthus fulvus, Kunth. 
Interior of Australia. A sweet, perennial grass, of which stock is 
so fond as to eat it closely down, and thus cause it to die out 
(Bailey). Readily raised by re-dissemination. 
Eriochloa annulata, Kunth. 
In tropical regions around the globe. Endures moderate cold in 
South Queensland, and affords fodder all the year round (Bailey). 
Euchlaena luxurians, Ascherson.* ( Beeana luxurians , 
Durieu.) 
The Teosinte. Guatemala, up to considerable elevations. Recom- 
mendable as a fodder grass. A large number of stems spring 
from the same root, attaining a height of a dozen feet or even more. 
The leaves grow to lengths of 3 feet, and form a good forage. 
The young shoots when boiled constitute a fair culinary esculent. 
Dr. Schweinfurth harvested at Cario from three seeds in one year 
about 12,000 grains ! The fruit required ten months to ripen from 
the time of sowing; the three seeds furnished ten stalks, each about 
18 feet high. The plant, particularly in its young state, is re- 
markably saccharine. For scenic growth this stately grass is also 
recommendable. Vilmorin estimates one plant sufficient for two 
