734 BOTAXY OF THE SPRINGSURE DISTRICT, 



We now arrive at Wills' Station (Culinlaringo) about thirty- 

 miles from Emerald, where we were hospitably entertained. On 

 the following morning we started for Springsure by the near road 

 which goes through the " Gap," shorter by four or five miles 

 than the road via Fernlees. The scenery from Wills' to 

 Springsure is delightful ; for the greater part of the way the 

 track runs along a narrow valley between two steep ranges, 

 where the botanist can fully occupy his mind, especially when 

 he has to steer a vehicle over a rugged bush track. 



Being now in the Springsure district I shall notice the Orders 

 represented separately, in order to give the reader a more accurate 

 idea of the botany of the district. But it must not be taken for 

 granted that this includes the whole of the Springsure Flora, as 

 our observations were necessarily confined to a few spots ; indeed 

 I am fully convinced that, if properly explored, the ranges in the 

 neighbourhood would yield many rare plants, and probably new 

 and interesting species. 



In the Legumi7ios(e we noticed Acacia salicina in several places 

 along the road, where it attains a height of 40 to 50 feet. It is a 

 very variable species and is widely distributed in Queensland, 

 and yet it is perhaps the most easily recognised of all its congeners. 

 A. excelsa is also common here, and approaches to a height of 

 50 feet, and though somewhat resembling the last named species 

 it is easily distinguished from it. The thorny A. Farncsiana is 

 common on the downs, and never exceeds a height of four or 

 five feet ; its flowers yield a delicious perfume. This shrub is 

 known as the "Dead Finish" in the southern parts of the 

 Colony, though it does not occur there, and evidently the name 

 should apply to Albizzia lasaltica, which is the true "Dead 

 Finish." In the Government Exhibition Catalogue the wood 

 mentioned as Acacia Farnesiana is evidently Albizzia basaltica, as 

 the former species never attains a size to produce wood of any 

 use, and neither of the two appears to be found in the neighbour- 



