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Voelcker found muck mucilage but little sugar in this plant.
The massive root known to penetrate to nine feet depth
sustains the plant in vigour, admitting it to be cut almost
throughout the year. The propagation is easy from root-
cuttings, difficult from seeds, 4000 of the former to an acre ;
it will thrive even in sand and tough clay, but prefers moist
and even boggy land. I t ought here to be naturalised along
swamps, lagoons and river-banks. I t can be dried for hay.
Finally it is recommended as a plant for game.
Symphytum officinale, Linné.
The Comfrey. Europe, Western Asia. A perennial herb.
The root is utilised in veterinary practice.
Symplocos ramosissima, Wallich.
Himalaya, up to 7500 feet. In Sikkim, according to Dr.
Stewart, the yellow silkworm is reared on the leaves of this
tree. Two allied species occur spontaneously in the forests of
East Australia.
Synoon glandulosum, A. de Jussieu.
New South Wales and South Queensland. This evergreen
tree deserves cultivation in sheltered warm forest-valleys of
our colony, on account of its rose-scented wood. Some
species of I)ysoxylon of East Australia produce also rosewood.
Tacca pinnatifida, G. Eorster.
Sand-shores of the South Sea Islands. Erom the tubers of
this herb the main supply of the Fiji arrowroot is prepared.
I t is not unlikely, th a t this plant will endure our coast-clime.
The Tacca-starch is much valued in medicine, and particularly
used in cases of dysentery and diarrhoea. Its characteristics
are readily recognised under the microscope. Several other
kinds of Tacca are distinguished, hut their specific limits are
not yet well ascertained. Dr. Seemann admits two (T.
maculata and T. Brownii) for tropical Australia, one of these
extending as a hill-plant to Fiji. Erom the leaves and
fiower-stalks light kinds of bonnets are plaited. A Tacca
occurring in the Sandwich Islands yields a large quantity of
the so-called arrowroot exported from thence. Other species
(including those of Ataccia) occur in India, Madagascar,
Guinea and Guiana, all deserving tests in reference to their
value as starch-plants.
Tagetes glanduligera, Schranck.
South America. This vigorous annual plant is said by Dr.
Prentice to he pulicifugous.
Tamarindus Indica, Linné.
Tropical Asia and Africa. This magnificent large expansive
tree extends northwards of Egypt, and was found by the
writer of this list in North-Western Australia. Final girth
of stem 25 feet not rare. Never leafless. Varieties occur
according to Brandis with sweetish red pulp. I t is indicated
here not without hesitation, to suggest new trials of its
acclimation on the lower Murray Piver and in East Gippsland.
The acid pulp of the pods forms tbe medicinal Tamarind,
rich in formic and butyric acid, irrespective of its other
contents.
Tamarix dioica, Poxburgh.
India, up to 2500 feet. An important shrub for binding
newly-formed river-hanks even in saline soil.
Tamarix Gallica, Linné.*
South Europe, North and tropical Africa, South Asia, ascending
the Himalayas to 11,000 feet. This sbrub adapts itself
in tbe most extraordinary manner to the most difierent
localities. I t will grow alike in water and the driest soil ;
also in salty ground; and is one of the most grateful and
tractable plants in culture; it is readily multiplied from
cuttings, which strike root as easily as a willow, and push
forth stems with unusual vigour. Hence it is one of the
most eligible bushes for planting on coast-sand to stay its
movements, or for lining embankments. Planted much in
cemeteries. Here first largely sent out by the writer.
Tamarix Germanica, Linné.
Europe and West Asia, ascending to 15,000 feet in the
Himalayas. Likewise available for arresting the ingress of
shifting sand, particularly in moist places, also for solidifying
precipitous river-banks. The allied T. elegans (Myricaria
elegans, Poyle) attains a height of twenty feet.
Tamarix orientalis, Eorskal. (T. articulata, Vahl.)
North and Middle Africa, South Asia. A fast-growing tree,
attaining a height of sixty feet, the trunk occasionally expanding
to a circumference of twelve feet. Springs up freely
fx’om seeds and is also readily propagated from cuttings.
Coppices well (Stewart and Brandis). The wood serves for
ploughs, wheels and many implements. Dye-galls and a
kind of manna are also produced by this tree. The same or
an allied species extends to Japan.
Tanacetum vulgare, Linné.
The Tansy. North and Middle Europe, North Asia, North-
Western America. A perennial herb of well-known medicinal
value, which mainly depends on its volatile oil.
*