740 BOTANY OF THE SPRINGSUE.E DISTRICT, 



or "Emu Apple " are mostly confined to the brigalow scrubs in 

 the neighbourhood, and these with the pretty shrub Turraea 

 pubescens make up our list of the Meliaceae. The last-named shrub 

 is deciduous, its white fragrant flowers appearing with the young 

 leaves, and it is entirely peculiar to Queensland. Bignoniacea 

 are but a small Order in Australia, and it is mostly confined to 

 Queensland. Of the two Tecomas found in Australia, one, Tecoma 

 australis, is common at Springsure. The flowers of this climber 

 have a most disagreeable smell. Geraniacecc we only found 

 represented by the humble Oxalis comiculatus (the " Sour Grass " 

 of the Colonists) ; and Linacea or the Flax tribe, have also but a 

 single representative, Erythroxylon australe, a shrub very common 

 in the brushes along the coast. It would be interesting to know 

 if this species possess any stimulating properties like its congener 

 E. coca, of South America. 



The Capparideas are represented by three genera, Capparis, 

 Apophyllum and Gynandropsis. Capparis canescens and C. Mitchellii 

 are common, and G. Slianesii is less frequent, and of recent dis- 

 covery ; the fruit of these shrubs is known by the name of ' Native 

 Pomegranates "and the pulpy part in which the seed is imbedded 

 is a good substitute for mustard. Apophyllum anomalum is a most 

 remarkable shrub, and will be readily recognised in the brigalow 

 scrubs by its wiry, leafless branches and small pea-like fruit ; it 

 is the only known species. Gynandropsis pentaphylla is more rare, 

 but is always met with in old sheep yards. It is an herbaceous 

 plant, and its long pod-like capsules, which have a pungent taste, 

 could be used for pickling. The only members of the Rutacex 

 we saw, are Geijeraparviflora, a tall shrub peculiar to the brigalow 

 scrub and G. salicifolia. a handsome middle-sized tree ; the old 

 name G. latifolia, would be much more appropriate for this tree. 

 The Myoporinece have but a single representative, Eremophila 

 Mitchell i or " Bastard Sandal- wood," which is common in all the 

 brigalow scrubs. We found several species of Malvacecc, which are 

 generally plentiful everywhere. Gossypium (Fugosia) australe is 



