BY FRED. TURNER. 145 



The last-named is an exceeding!}^ variable and most interesting 

 plant, generally dicecious but often polygamous, with white 

 flowers and prominently three-angled capsules containing small, 

 globular seeds. Jitncacem consist of three genera and ten species, 

 and some of them are widely distributed. The dicecious flowers 

 of some species of Xerotes are sweetty scented and often perfume 

 the air for a considerable distance. Cyperacece, are found almost 

 all over this section of the State, occurring on high and low land 

 and in marshy situations. Several species are very ornamental 

 when in flower, especially those of the genera Cyperus and Fim- 

 hristi/lis. A few species of this Order are eaten by stock, but, 

 speaking generally, the feeding value of these plants is not con- 

 sidered to be very high, though they are of great importance in 

 the economy of nature. 



The indigenous Graminece are represented by forty-seven 

 genera and one hundred and fifteen species besides varieties, of 

 which all the more important ones have been figured and 

 described, as to their economic value, b}^ me under instructions 

 from the Government of New South Wales. Many exotic 

 species, some of which have become acclimatised, are found in 

 more or less abundance over nearly the whole of this region. 

 From a pastoralist's point of view, the indigenous grasses are the 

 most important part of the vegetation of the South-West. 



Acotyledonece, as far as vascular Cryptogama are concerned, 

 and this Census does not take into account cellular Cryptogams^ 

 are not a conspicuous feature of the flora of the South- West, 

 though they are more numerous, both in genera and species, 

 than in the Darling country. On many of the still waters the 

 two species of Azolla are very common, particularly A. rubra, 

 R.Br. This floating plant completely covers some lagoons, and 

 it goes by the name of " red jacket," on account of its prevailing- 

 colour. I have frequently taken water for drinking purposes 

 from lagoons covered with this plant because it was invariably 

 clear and ver}'^ much cooler than that exposed to the fierce rays 

 of the sun. There is no doubt that these species of Azolla con- 

 siderabl}' check the evaporation of water in summer time. 

 10 



