NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN PLANTS. 265 



Notes on some Edible and Useful Australian Plants, in a Letter 



from Mr. Carl Wilhelmi, of the Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, 



,from a Letter addressed to the Editor of the 'Argus? Mel- 



hourne. 



Sir, — I take the liberty of transmitting to you, for insertion in your 

 Journal, should you think fit so to do, the undermentioned particulars 

 concerning some indigenous plants, and which might prove both useful 

 and interesting to many of your readers. 



During my late botanical tour through the Grampians, Victoria 

 Ranges, and Pyrenees, I have had opportunities of becoming acquainted 

 with several plants which are of great use to the residents in those dis- 

 tant localities. , 



■ 



One of these is Kennedya prostrata, a Leguminous plant. Most of 

 your readers interested in botany have doubtless observed a beautiful 

 creeper, bearing red blossoms, and winding along amongst the grass, 

 which is met with in large quantities about Melbourne, and in fact 

 throughout the colony, and in full bloom in the months of October, 

 November, and December. This plant is used by the wood-splitters 

 of the Victoria Ranges as a substitute for tea, and has indeed a very 

 agreeable taste. It is prepared in the following manner : — The creeper 

 is rolled together into a ball, in order that it may be easy to put it into 

 the pot. One or more of these balls are put into boiling water, the 

 boiling is continued for two or three minutes, and the tea is made. 

 For one quart-pot of water about one ounce and a half of this plant 

 is required, which may be used either fresh or dried* 



The leaves of Acacia myrtifolia (myrtle-leaved Acacia) are used by 

 the same splitters as a substitute for Hops, and with success. The me- 

 thod of using it is the same as with common Hops. 



It appears that in different districts different plants are used for one 

 and the same purpose. For example, in the Dandenong district Da- 

 viesia latifolia is also being successfully used as a substitute for Hops. 

 Both plants are met with in large quantities throughout the colony, 

 fa one district the residents are only acquainted with the use of the 

 one plant, whilst in another district the other only is known as adapted 

 for this particular purpose. 



The Droseras are plants which have proved to be poisonous to sheep, 

 though the fact is not yet generally known. If eaten by sheep, 



VOL. IX. 



2 M 



