habits Van Diemen's Land, where it is common in various 
soils throughout the colony, forming large tufts. Its leaves 
are quite smooth at the edge, in which respect it differs from 
the definition of Dr. Brown; yet I presume it must be his 
X. longifolia, for he says it is a native of Van Diemen’s Land, 
and I have seen no other species among the rich collections 
formed in that colony by Mr. Gunn (whose number 336 it 
is), and others. 
It is a plant of no beauty ; but its leaves are so hard and 
tough, that it deserves enquiry whether they will not yield 
a fibre capable of being advantageously manufactured into 
cordage. I know nothing which in the unmanufactured 
state promises better, by the powerful resistance offered to 
the force employed to break it. 
In this country it is a half-hardy herbaceous plant, which 
will grow in any soil and under any circumstances, and 
would no doubt succeed in the most barren places in a mild 
country. 
Why Labillardiere’s name of Lomandra should have been 
changed to Xerotes I do not know; but as Xerotes itself 
must certainly be broken up into at least two genera, it is to 
be hoped that the original name will be retained for this. 
Fig. 1. is a vertical section of a female flower; 2. is a 
vertical and 3. a transverse section of the ovary. 
