78  Useful  Plants  of  Algeria.  {^FeT'if^™" 
Esteemed  by  the  ancients  as  equal  to  opium,  it  has  been  since 
neglected.  Nicotiana  is  grown  by  the  Arabs.  Capsicum  annuum 
and  frntesccns  are  largely  cultivated.  A  number  of  solanums,  sev- 
eral of  which  have  active  principles,  are  cultivated  for  ornament  in 
gardens. 
Oleace.e. — Fraxinus  excelsior  is  common.  The  Arabs  employ 
the  fruit  medicinally  and  as  a  spice.  The  manna  ash  F.  Ornus  and 
F.  rotundifolia  are  easily  grown. 
The  Jasmines  are  cultivated  with  great  facility,  and  can  be  utilized 
for  enfleurage. 
Gentiancea.e. — Erythreea  Centauriwn,  common  among  the 
thickets,  is  exported  in  large  quantities.  One  house  of  Alger  ships 
5,000  to  7,000  pounds  yearly,  and  certain  herbalists  give  special 
attention  to  this  plant.  E.  pirichclla,  which  is  less  bitter,  is  often 
substituted  for  it.  Chlora  grandiflora,  very  plentiful,  might  be  tried. 
Boragixace.e. — Borago  officinalis  is  very  abundant,  and  two 
thousand  five  hundred  pounds  of  the  flowers  are  annually  exported. 
Alkanna  ti?tctoria  is  common  but  little  collected.  Heliotropinni 
curopcBiim  is  also  common,  and  grows  to  a  considerable  size.  It 
possesses  a  toxic  alkaloid. 
Labiat.e. — This  family  is  richly  represented  in  Algeria,  and  it  is 
strange  that  the  ambulant  distillers  have  not  utilized  the  plants  of 
rosemary,  lavender  and  thyme  so  common  on  the  heaths.  Penny- 
royal is  very  common,  and  is  largely  exported.  Messrs.  Chiris  & 
Gros  estimate  the  production  of  the  essential  oil  of  Mentha  Pulegium 
at  4,500  pounds.  Mentha  rotundifolia,  aquatica  and  sylvestris  are 
also  distilled. 
Many  species  of  indigenous  Salvia  are  utilized.  Calamintha  offi- 
cinalis and  Tenormin  Poliujn  are  much  used  by  the  Arabs.  Marru- 
bium  vnlgare  is  sometimes  employed  as  a  febrifuge. 
Verbenace-E. — Lippia  citriodora  is  much  cultivated.  Legout  & 
Peyron  export  annually  over  1,700  pounds  of  the  leaves  of  this 
odoriferous  verbena.  The  flowers  of  Citharexylum  quadrangulare 
might  be  utilized  for  enfleurage. 
Globularia  Alypum,  very  common ;  is  much  employed  by  the 
Arabs  in  medicine,  so  is  the  Limoniastrum  Guyonianum  as  an  anti- 
scorbutic. 
Thymelace^e:. — Daphne  Gnidium  is  employed  by  the  Arabs  as  a 
blister,  and  the  leaves  to  dye  yellow  and  to  bring  on  abortion.  The 
woody  Passerines  have  also  vesicant  barks. 
