142 DB. FERD. MULIiEB's BOTAKTCA.L BEPOBT 



have added since from places formerly inaccessible, 

 Cryptogamla, at least 1000 species. 



Australian 



plants comprises 500 species, which canno 

 rated, when we remember how far alone our 



gmented ; and 



plant 



sgarded as wan 



the existing former collections ; — I believe we may then safely 



9000 



Australian plants. 



.? The scantiness of the vegetation observed by Capt. Sturt anc 

 by us towards Central Australia ; the very limited number of ne\i 

 plants contained in a considerable collection formed by Mr. Wil 



species along the tropical east coast, and your 



range 



of Western 



are 



future will add scarcely 1000 truly distinct plants to 

 therto acctmiulated, and that, consequently (with the o 

 minute fimgi), the vegetable empire of all Australia 



.000 



species. 



Many of the indigenous vegetable productions proved eminently 

 useful to the expedition ; still it cannot be denied that their num- 

 ber, as far as ascertained, remains exceedingly limited, compared 

 with the total of the plants observed ; and attention has already 



directed 



extensive loss of specimens 

 determininer manv of thos( 



tanical accuracy ; and I shall therefore offer our i 



2fymph<ea gigantea and a second species, b< 



sacred Lotus of the ancient Egyptians {Nyrmhei 



armer 



zone of Australia. The seed-vessels and the roots of these water- 

 lilies form a large proportion of the vegetable food of the northern 

 natives, and the former particularly will always be regarded as a 

 providential gift in cases of need, by explorers of the North 



Amtralian wilderness. Yet more valuable, but less frequent, is 

 Nelumhium »pecio8vmy which reaches to East Australian extra^ 

 tropical latitudes,. Being identical with the well-known Pvtha^ 



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