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116 SELECT PLANTS EEADILY ELIGIBLE
Lavandula Stoeclias, Linné.
South Europe, North Africa. Topped Lavender. This shrub
can also be utilised for oil-distillation and other purposes, for
wliicli the two other Lavenders are used. The quality of the
oil of these species seems to differ according to their locality
of growth.
Lavatera arborea, Linné.
Ti’ee-Mallow of Middle Em’ope and the countries at the
Mediterranean Sea. A tall biennial plant of rapid growth.
The ribbon-like bast is produced in greater abundance than in
most other malvaceous plants. The Tree-Mallow might easily
be naturalised on our shores. Perhaps it might serve with
allied plants for green manure.
Lawsonia alba, Lamarck.
North, and Middle Africa, Persia, Arabia, India and North-
Western Australia. The Henne or Henna-Bush. I t may
become of use as a dye-plant in parts of our colony free of
frost The orange pigment is obtained from tbe ground
foliage. The plant can also be used for garden-hedges.
Leersia oryzoides, Swartz.
Middle and South Europe, various parts of Asia, Africa and
America. A perennial nutritious swamp-grass. Other Leer-
sias from both hemispheres are deserving of introduction.
Lepidium latifolium, Linné.
Europe, North Africa, Middle and North Asia. A perennial
herb of peppery acridity, mucli used for some select sauces.
Lepidium sativum, Linné.
Tbe Cress. Orient. Annual. Irrespective of its culinary
value, Cress is of use as one of the remedies in cases of scurvy,
Active principle : a volatile oil and the bitter Lepidin.
Lepidosperma gladiatum, La Biliardière.
The Sword-Sedge of the sea-coasts of extra-tropic Australia.
One of the most important plants for binding sea-sand, also
yielding a paper material as good as Sparta.
Leptospermum lævigatum, F. von Mueller. {Fahrick
lævigata, Gaertner.)
Tbe “ Sandstay.” Sea-sbores and sand-deserts of extra-tropic
Australia, but not extending to Western Australia. This
shrub or small tree is the most effectual of all for arresting
tbe progress of drift-sand in a clime like ours. I t is most
easily raised by simply scattering in autumn the seeds on the
sand and covering them loosely with boughs.
Lespedeza striata. Hooker and Arnott.*
China and Japan. An annual herb, which in North America
has proved of great use. Mr. Meehan states it to be identicai
FOR VICTORIAN INDUSTRIAL CULTURE. 117
with the Hoop Koop plant, and that it has taken possession of
much waste land in the Southern States. I t grows there wonderfully
on the hot dry soil, and the cattle like it amazingly.
Leucadendron argenteum. Brown.
The Silver-tree of South Africa is included on this occasion
among forest-trees, because it would add to tbe splendour of
our woods, and thrive far better there than in our gardens.
Moreover, with this tree many others equally glorious might
he established in our mild forest-glens as a source of horticultural
wealth, were it only to obtain in future years a copious
supply of seeds. Mention may be made of tbe tall Magnolia
trees of N. America (Magnolia grandiflora, L,, 100 feet high;
M. umbrella, Lam., 40 feet; M. acuminata, 80 feet; M.
cordata, Miclix., 50 feet; M. Fraseri, Walt., 40 feet;
M. macrophylla, Michx., 40 feet); M. Yulan, Desf., of China,
50 feet; Magnolia Campbelli, Hook., of the Himalayas, 150
feet high and flowers nearly a foot across; M. spbærocarpa,
Eoxb., also of the Indian Highlands, 40 feet; the Mediterranean
Styrax-tree (Styrax officinalis, L.); Stenocarpus
sinuosus, Endl., of East Australia (the most brilliant of the
Proteaceæ); the crimson and scarlet Eatas of New Zealand
(Metrosideros florida, Sm.; M. lucida, Menz.; M. robusta,
Cunn., 80 feet high; M. tomentosa, Cunn., 40 feet); Fuchsia
excorticata, L., also from New Zealand, stem two feet in
diameter; the crimson-flowered Eucalyptus ficifolia of West
Australia; EhododendronFalconeri, Hooker, from Upper India,
■ 60 feet high, leaves 18 inches long. In the sassafras gullies’
here alluded to, also may be planted the great Melaleuca
Leucadendron, L., the true Asiatic Cajapnt-tree, which grows
to a height of 100 feet; even the North European Holly
(Ilex Aquifolium), which occasionally rises to 60 feet, though
both from regions so distant.
Levisia rediviva, Pursh.
North-West America. The root of this herb is large and
starchy, formerly extensively used by the native inhabitants.
The plant deserves trial-culture.
Leyssera gnapEalioides, Linné.
South Africa. A perennial herb of aromatic scent and
taste. Much used there as a medicinal tea.
Liatris odoratissima, Willdenow.
Southern States of North America. A perennial herb
occurring on swampy places.
Libocedrus Chilensis, Endlicher.
In cold valleys on the southern Andes of Chili, 2000 to 5000
feet. A fine tree, eighty feet high, furnishing a hard resinous
wood of a yellowish colour.
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