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Astragalus gummifer, La Biliardière.
Syria and Persia. This shrub also yields a good kind of
Tragacanth.
Astragalus hypoglottis, Linné.
In the colder regions of Europe, Asia and North America.
This perennial plant is regarded as a good fodder-herb on
calcareous and gravelly soil, and would likely he of importance
for our alps. Of the enormous number of supposed species
of this genus _ (according to Boissier, not less than 750
merely in Asia Minor and the adjoining countries) many
must be of pastoral value, like some of our closely-allied
Swainsonas, though they also may include deleterious species.
Astragalus parnassi, Boissier (A. CylUneous, Heldreich).
Greece. This small shrub furnishes there almost exclusively
the commercial Tragacanth. I t ascends to elevations of 7000
feet, becomes therefore alpine.
Astragalus strabiliferus, Boyle.
Asiatic Turkey. The brown Tragacanth is collected from this
species.
Astragalus verus, Olivier.
Asiatic Turkey and Persia. This shrub furnishes the Takalor
or Smyrna Tragacanth, or it is derived from an allied species.
Atalantia glauca, J . Hooker.
New South Wales and Queensland. This desert-lemon is
mentioned here to draw attention to the likelihood of its
improvmg in culture, and to its fitness for being grown in arid
land.
Atriplex bortensis, Linné.
North and Middle Asia. The Arroche. An annual Spinacre
plant. ^ *=
Atriplex nummularium, Lindley.
Erom Queensland through the desert-tracts to Victoria and
South Australia. One of the tallest and most fattening and
wholesome of our pastoral salt-bushes, and although a native
plant even here highly recommendable for artificial rearin«^
as the spontaiieonsly growing plants, by close occupation Sf
the sheep and cattle runs, have largely disappeared, and
as tins useful bush even here in many wide tracts does not
exist.
Atriplex spongiosum, E. v. Mueller.
Through a gi’eat part of Central Australia, extending to the
west coast. Available like the preceding, and like A
halimoides,_ A. vesicarium, A. holocarpum and several other
native species for salt-bush culture. CJnquestionably some of
the scrubby Extra-Australian species, particularly those of
the Siberian and Californian steppes, could be transferred
advantageously to onr salt-bush country to increase its value
for sheep-pasture.
Atropa Belladonna, Linné. , n i -n i
The Deadly Nightshade. South and Middle Europe and
Western Asia. A most important perennial medicinal herb.
The highly powerful Atropin is derived from it, besides
another alkaloid, the Belladonnin.
^^^Europe,^Mfddle Asia, North Africa. This tall grass should
not be passed altogether on this occasion, although it becomes
easily irrepressible on account of its wide-creeping roots. I t
should here be chosen for dry and barren tracts of country,
it having proved to resist onr occasional droughts even better
than Rye-grass. The bulk yielded by it is great, it submits
well to depasturing, and gives two or three crops of hay
annually : it is, however, not so much relished by animals as
many other grasses.
E^ope, Nortk Africa, North and MidMe Asia,
eastward as far as Japan. The experiments of Professor
Buctanan indicate, that our ordinary Culture-Oat (Avena
sativa, L.) is descended from this plant.
Avena flavescens, Linné. {Trisetiimflavescens, Be^^^v.)
Yellowish Oat-Grass. Europe, North Africa, Middfo and
North Asia, eastward as far as Japan. One of the best ot
perennial meadow-grasses, living pn dry soil : htted also tor
our Alps. Lawson observes th a t it yields a considerable bulk
of fine foliage, and th a t it is eagerly sought by sheep, but
that it thrives best intermixed with other grasses. I t likes
particularly limestone soil, where it forms a most vakiable
Lder-grass, but is not adapted for poor sand nor will it stand
well the traversing of pasture animals (Langethal).
North Asm I f thrives well
on dry, clayey soil ; it produces a sweet fodder, but not in so
great proportion as several other less nutritious grasses. I t is
perennial, and well adapted for our snowy mountains, where it
would readily establish itself, even on heathy moors. Recommended
by Langethal for arid ground particularly such
as contains some lime, being thus as valuable as Eestuca
ovina. Eligible also for meadows under a system ot
irrigation.
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