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. *1 the same island. The New Guinea Araucaria should also be
introduced.
Arbutus Menziesii, Pursh.
North-West America. An evergreen tree, attaining a height
of 150 feet. I belongs to the coast-tract exclusively. Wood
exceedingly hard. The tree requires a deep loamy soil
(Bolander); it would here be valuable at least as a higlily
ornamental garden-plant.
Arcbangelica officinalis, Hoffmann.
Arctic zone and mountain regions of Europe. The stalks are
used for confectionery; the roots are of medicinal use. Only
in our Alps would this herb fully establish its value. The
root is biennial and used in the distillation of some cordials.
Arctostapbylos uva ursi, Sprengel.
Alpine and Arctic Europe, North Asia and North America.
A medicinal small shrub, which here could best be reared in
the heath-moors of our Alpine regions.
Argania Sideroxylon, Boemer and Schultes.
The Argan-tree. Western Barbary, on dry hills. Its growth
is here found to be slow; but it is a tree of longevity.
Thongli comparatively low in stature, its foliage occasionally
spreads to a circumference of 220 feet. I t sends out suckers
from the root. The fruits serve as food for cattle in Morocco;
but here the kernels would be more likely to be utilized by
pressing the oil from them.
Aristolocbia Indica, Linné.
Tropical Asia and Polynesia. A perennial climber; the
leaves famed as an alexipharmic. Can only be grown in
places free from frost.
Aristolocbia recurvilabra, Hance.
The green Putchuck of China. A medicinal plant, largely
obtained at Ningpo. The present value of its export is from
£20,000 to £30,000 annually.
Aristolocbia Serpentaria, Linné.
The Snake-root of North America. The root of this trailing
herb is valuable in medicine; it contains a peculiar volatile oil.
Several other Aristolochise deserve culture for medicinal
purposes, for instance,—Aristolocbia ovalifolia (Guaco) and
A. anguicida, from the mountains of Central America, should
they prove hardy.
Aristotelia Macqui, L’Heritier.
Chili. The berries of this shrub, though small, have the
pleasant taste of bilberries, and are largely consumed in
Chili. The plant would thrive in our forest-valleys.
Arnica montana, Linné.
Colder parts of Europe. This pretty herb is perennial, and
of medicinal value. I t is eligible for our sub-alpine regions.
The active principles a re :—Arnicin, volatile oil, cupron and
capryl acid.
Arracacha xantborrbiza, Bancroft.
Mountain regions of Central America. An umbelliferous
herb. The roots are nutritious and palatable. There are
yellow, purple and pale varieties.
Artemisia Absintbium, Linné.
The Wormwood. Europe, North and Middle Asia, and
North Africa. A perennial herb, valuable as a tonic and
anthelmintic. Several other species of Artemisia deserve
cultivation for medicmal purposes. Active principles:—
Absintliin, an oily substance indurating to a crystalline
mass; a volatile oil peculiar to the species.
Artemisia Gina, Berg.
Kurdistan. This herb furnislies the genuine Santonica
seeds (or rather flowers and fruits), as a vermifuge of long-
estabished use. Some other Asiatic species yield a similar drug.
Artemisia Dracunculus, Linné.
The Tarragon or Estragón. North Asia. A perennial herb,
used as a condiment. Its flavour rests on two volatile oils,
one of them peculiar to the plant.
Artemisia Mutellina, Yillars.
Alps of Europe. This aromatic, somewhat woody plant
deserves to be established in our snowy regions.
Artemisia Pontica, Linné.
Middle and South Europe, West Asia. More aromatic and
less bitter than the ordinary wormwood. Many other species
of this genus deserve attention of the culturist.
Arundinaria falcata, Nees.
The Ringal or Ningala Bamboo of the Himalayas, at elevations
from 3500 to 10,000 feet, forming close and dense thickets.
I t rises to the height of 40 feet, the canes durable, attaining
a diameter of only four inches, applied to manifold useful
purposes. The closely allied Jnx'boota Bamboo of Nepal,
which occurs only in the cold altitudes of from 7000 to 10,000
feet, differs in solitary stems, not growing in clumps. The
Tham or Khaptur Bamboo is from a still colder zone, at
from 8500 to 11,500 feet, only 500 feet or less below the
inferior limits of perpetual glaciers. (Major Madden.)
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