240 



of quartz rock and ironstone, the south of a peculiarly 

 composed basaltic stratum, of which the basis is bright 

 pink-coloured, with white spots : it is remarkably hard, and 

 breaks into square blocks, and is used for the foundations of 

 buildings at Brisbane Town, being reckoned exceedingly 

 durable. 



July 2d. — At nine o'clock, crossed the river to examine 

 some dense forests on its southern bank, where I succeeded 



-r 



in collecting four species of Capparis^ Carissa ovata^ Exocar^ 

 pus lattfolia^ Dendrobium tetragonum^ and another new species. 

 Here the Acrostichim grande * (of Cunnlngliam) forms a 

 most striking feature- .On my return to Brisbane Town in 

 the afternoon^ I accompanied Capt* Logan to the intended 

 site of the New Garden, where we felled a magnificent tree 

 of Flindersia australis^ loaded with ripe fruit. 



July 3d. — Employed this day in laying down the bound- 

 aries of the New Garden, and fixing the situation of a large 

 pond in its centre. 



4 



• This is indeed a most singular plant, which Mr» Fraser farther notices m 

 his letter to me, dated Sydney, 5th Feb. of this present year, 1829. "1°^ 

 case," he says, '' I have sent you a package of specimens of that superb Jcrostt- 

 chum, grande of Mr. Cunningham. To admit their fronds between paper of the 

 largest atlas size, I have been obliged to divide them into very many portions 

 or sections. The colour is a bright pea-geeen, that of the seeds a light broffO- 

 The plant is found parasitic on all descriptions of trees in the forests on t e 

 banks of the rivers Brisbane and Hastings, the latter (in lat. 31^ 20" South) 

 being its extreme southern range," The nidus, if I may so call it, or the base 

 with the roots of one of these gigantic AcrostkJia, was sent also, which in shape 

 resembles a little punt or boat, having a completely convex lower surface,^ fron* 

 the numerous ascending scales or old remains of former years' fronds ; and it is^" 

 itself quite a curiosity. With regard to the species, it approaches very near ?, 

 if it be not actually the same with the Flatijcerium biforme of Blume, »» 

 splendid Flora of Java, v. 1. p. 44-. t. 18. That author found it growing on 

 stems of Arenga saccharifera of Labill. in Java, but only once was able to is- 

 cover a fertile frond, and tbat at the foot of the mountain Gunung Senu. 

 Again, it seems to be identical with the Acrostkhum fuci forme, IVdU ^^^^^ ^ 

 Dr. Waliich at Singapore. 



i 



Seeds of It are sown In the Glasgow Botanic Garden, and if we are success ^ 

 n raising plants from them, it would of all Ferns be the one most ^rorthy o 



cultivation in oar stoves. 



