170 NOTES ON THE INDIGENOUS PLANTS OF MELBOUilNK. 



decipiens, (R, Br.;) Pimelea glauca; and Samolus litoralis. On the banks of 

 the Yarra, on the 7th. of January, I found abundantly amongst rushes Ora- 

 tiola latifolia, (R. Br.;) Paguerina graminea; Eumex spinulosus, (Mueller;) 

 Mimuim repens; and a very beautiful little white Violet, the centre streaked with 

 purple, and reniforin leaves, covering the banks to the water's edge; this is, I 

 believe, the Viola hederacea of Labillardiere, and the Erpetion hederaceum of 

 DecandoUe, who has divided it from the Violacece. 



One of the most delightful rambles I have had in the neighbourhood was 

 on the 22nd. ult., on the banks of the Yarra above Melbourne. The day 

 was bright and warm, and birds of the most varied and beautiful plumage — 

 Kingfishers, Paroquets, etc., were flying around me. I observed by the river 

 side Gyperus lucidus, (R. Br. Prod. 74;) Ghapelliera loculata, (Mueller ;) Poly- 

 gonum prostratum, (Prod. 275,) rare. Under Richmond, Gardamine remotiflora, 

 (Mueller,) and Galorephalus lacteus, (Lessing.) In the Surrey Paddock the 

 beautiful Bubus marrapodus, (Wild Raspberry,) was in great abundance; on 

 the fruit of which, and that of Exocarpus cupressiformis, (called here the Wild 

 Cherry,) I literally feasted, and most grateful were they after a walk of 

 some fifteen miles in the heat of an Australian day. Twining amongst the 

 former was the exquisite little Zioliya angudifolia, (Lindley,) and near the same 

 spot Z. Latroheana, trailing; this I have also observed on Bateman's Hill, near 

 the town. Bursaria spinosa, a shrub somewhat resembling our Ligustrum, was 

 coming into flower, and the savoury smell of Mentha Australis perfumed the 

 air on all sides. I gathered nearly opposite Gardner's Creek two specimens 

 of a very pretty Verbascum' but from the variety of forms which this genus 

 presents, I have not yet been able to determine the species. I was fortunate 

 also to meet with a specimen of Dipodium pundatvm, an orchideous plant which 

 is said to be parasitic on the roots of the Eucalypti. In some parts of the 

 Paddock, Lobelia hydrophila, (Mueller;) Peranthera annua, (Mueller;) Scutel- 

 laria humilis, (R. Br.;} Asperula oliganthema, (Mueller,) were plentiful; and 

 here too I met with Veronica lahiata, the only species 1 have noticed; it is 

 about three feet in height, with white flowers in axillary racemes; leaves 

 elongate-lanceolate, acuminate, unequally serrate. Sparingly in the same habitat, 

 Daucus brachiatus, with a species of Erechtites. Returning by way of Rich- 

 mond, a very pretty little composite, (Strongylospenna ?) was growing 



abundantly on the side of a swamp, and Ranunculus inundntus peeping up 

 from amidst Potamogeton, and other water-plants, and in wet situations 

 Tillcea Stuartii, (Mueller,) very common. The ponds here are inhabited by 

 a very beautiful species of Frog, mottled with green and brown spots, and 

 their croaking may be heard for some distance; this and the chirping of the 

 Locusts on the gum trees, is at times almost deafening. 



I much regret my time will not permit me to enter into a full description 

 of the plants above named, but the mere mention of them will shew how 

 rich the colony is in Botanical productions, even at this season of the year 

 when all vegetation is dried up by the intense heat; however I trust at some 

 future day to renew the subject, and render it more interesting to your readers, 



February, 1853. 



