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Gigantochloa nigro-ciliata, Kurz. {Oxytenanthera nigro-
Some Java bamboo is
about 1 2 0 feet still 22
{Bambusa verticillata,
I t attains a height of
ciliata, Munro.)
Continental and insular India. Stems to 130 feet long.
Gigantochloa robusta, Km-z.
Mountains of Java. Height to 100 feet. Kurz noticed in
Java the early growth to be nearly 18 feet in a month, the
principal branches only commencing when the shoot had
reached a height of about 70 feet,
known to measui'e at a height of
inches in girth.
Gigantochloa verticillata, Munro.
Blume.)
The Whorled Bamboo of India.
1 0 0 feet ; in damp beat it grows at tbe astonishing celerity of
40 feet in about thi’ee months, according to Bouché. The
young shoots furnish an edible vegetable like G. Apus and
Bambusa Bitung.
Ginkgo biloba, Linné. {Salisburia adiantifolia. Smith.)
Ginkgo-tree. China and Japan. A deciduous fan-leaved
tree, 1 0 0 feet high, with a straight stem 1 2 feet in diameter.
The wood is white, soft, easy to work, and takes a beautiful
polish. The seeds are edible, and when pressed yield a good
oil. Ginkgo-trees are estimated to attain an age of 3000
years.
Gladiolus edulis, Bnrcliell.
Interior of South Africa. The bulb-like roots are edible, and
taste like chestnuts when roasted.
Gleditschia triacanthos, Linné.
The deciduous Honey Locust-tree of North America. Height
up to 80 feet. Wood hard, coarse-grained, fissile. Sown
closely, this plant forms impenetrable, thorny, not readily
combustible hedges. An allied species, the G. hórrida,
Willd., in East Asia. The Water Locust-tree of North
America (G. monosperma, Walt.) will grow in swamps to 80
feet.
Glycine hispida, Bentham. {Soja hispida, Moench.)
An annual herb of India, China and Japan. The beans are
one of the main ingredients of the condiment known as Soja.
Glycine Soja, Siebold and Zuccarini, is said to be a distinct
plant, but probably serving the same purpose.
Glycyrrhiza echinata, Linné.
South Europe and Orient. Erom the root of this herb at
least a portion of the Italian Liquorice is prepared. The
root is thicker than that of the following. The Bussi an
Liquorice-root is derived from this species. I t is less sweet.
G ly cy r rh iza g la b r a , Linné.
South Europe. The extract of the root of this herb constitutes
the ordinary Liquorice. The plant grows here most
vigorously. The Liquorice of some utility in medicine, but
also used in porter breweries. Chemical principle: Glycyr-
rhizin.
Gonioma Kamassi, E. Meyer.
South Africa. This small tree furnishes the yellow Kamassi-
wood, much sought for carpenter’s tools, planes and other
select articles of wood-work ; also for wood engraving,
according to Di-. Bappe. Elowers deliciously fragi'ant.
Gordonia lasianthus, Linné.
The Loblolly Bay. North America. A handsome tree,
growing to a height of 60 feet ; fiowers snowy white. The
wood is extremely light, of a rosy hue and fine silky texture,
but unfit for exposure. The bark is extensively employed
for tanning in the Southern States. Available for swampy
coast-lands.
Gossypium arboreum, Linné.*
The Tree-Cotton. India, Arabia. A tall perennial species,
but not forming a real tree, yielding cotton in the first
season already. Leaves long-lobed. Bracts with few teeth.
Petals yellow or in age pink or purple. Seeds brown, disconnected,
after the removal of the cotton-fibiæ greenish-
velvety. The cotton of long staple, but a variety occurs
with short staple. The New Orleans Cotton (G. sangnineum,
Hassk.) belongs to this species. Dr. Seemann connects also
the ordinary G. herbaceum, L., as a variety with G. arhoreum.
The cotton-fibre is crisp, white, opaque and not easily
separable.
Gossypium Barbadense, Linné.*
West India. Sea Island Cotton. Leaves long-lobed. Petals
yellow. Seeds disconnected, black, after the removal of tbe
cotton-fibre naked. The cotton of this species is very long,
easily separable and of a silky lustre. This species requires
low-lying coast-tracts for attaining to perfection. Perennial,
and yielding like the rest a crop in the first season. Cultivated
largely in the Southern States of North America, also
in South Europe, North Africa, Queensland and various other
countries.
Gossypium herbaceum, Linné.*
Scinde, Cabul and other parts of tropical and sub-tropical
Asia, much cultivated in the Mediterranean countries.
Perennial. Leaves short-lobed. Petals yellow. Seeds disconnected,
after removal of the cotton-fibre grey-velvety.
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