BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 345 
anthemum, with flowers two inches across and deep rose-red, and seed- 
vessels of a highly remarkable structure. Another species had incon- 
spicuous blossoms, borne generally in threes; I also found the common 
fruit-bearing species in bloom near the spring. All these I dried in 
an oven, and I mean to send them home. 
The native called Mangerroot was our guide: he owns the land, and 
is acquainted with every spring and pool for a hundred miles to the 
eastward; but we could only proceed about sixty miles, to the head of 
a fresh-water river, called Wallemarra by the Aborigines, where we - 
found large pools in extensive flats and water of admirable quality. 
We are ignorant where this river rises or whither it goes. On the banks 
and in the pools I found several new plants. One is a remarkable 
Grass with the habit of the Bamboo, 8-10 feet high, and as thick as a 
goosequill. A Myriophyllum, which I had not seen before, inhabits 
the water, and a curious Z/afine-like plant with invisible flowers and 
conspicuous seed-vessels. It is worthy of observation how many - 
plants accommodate themselves wonderfully to circumstances. Thus 
a small Cardamine grows with us on the banks of streams and in the 
bottom of pools, where it is always submerged, producing in both si- 
tuations abundance of perfect seeds. - 
I think I formerly mentioned a curious Alismaceous species, which 
rarely perfects its flowers, yet always bears plenty of seed. I have 
now got another individual of the same genus, whose complete inflo- 
rescence, if ever it has any, has eluded all my researches. But you will 
probably consider a sort of Elatine as the most remarkable of this 
group. I sent specimens of the immersed state in a previous collec- , 
tion: the plant is surrounded with air-cells, which cause it, when de- 
tached from the earth in which it vegetates at the bottom of pools, to - 
float at once to the shore, where it strikes root and developes its curious 
triandrous, tripetalous, trigynous flowers, having each a three-celled: 
capsule. I have ascertained that in the minute submerged concealed 
flowers, the anthers burst internally, and the seeds arrive at maturity 
in a much shorter time than tbey require when the inflorescence is ex- 
posed to the air. When all the parts are developed in the submerged 
flowers I can detect but one covering to the seeds, which seems com- 
posed of the united petals, the true germen not being developed. . 
I found two additional species of a curious Fallisneria-like genus. 
One grows in pools three feet deep. The plant is much PM and 
YOL. V. T 
