40 botany of nokth-western new south wales, 



Timbers used by the Aborigines for making into spears, 



CLUBS, AND BOOxMERANGS. 



Botanical names. Common names. 



Acacia aneura^ F.v.M. Mulga. 



doraioxijlon, A. Cunn. Spear wood. 



hortialophylla A. Cunn. Curley Yarren. 



se?ifis, F.v.M. Bramble acacia. 



Ventilago viminalis, Hook. Supple Jack. 



The last-named species is also used by the blacks for fire-sticks. 

 Light spears are also made from the matured stems of Phrag- 

 mites communis, Trin., and Typha anr/iisti folia, Linn. 



Gum and resin, used as cement for affixing spear heads, etc., 

 Are obtained from Grevillea striata, R.Br., and Xantliorrlioea 

 ■arbor ea, R.Br. 



In very dry seasons, or when travelling in dry country, the 

 aborigines obtain water from the roots of several species of 

 Eucalyptus, especially those composing the Mallee scrubs, and 

 Sakea, particular!}^ H. leucoptera, R.Br. 



The Flora. 



As far back as 1877-8 I examined some collections of north- 

 western plants made on the borders of New South Wales and 

 Queensland for the Botanic Gardens, Brisbane. Since that time 

 I have botanised largely in the north-west, and written very 

 many special reports on the economic value of the vegetation 

 growing there. In addition, I have figured and described, as to 

 their economic value, many of the useful plants of this region 

 for the Government of New South Wales. These figures and 

 descriptions have been published, so that pastoralists and those 

 settled upon the land may become thorough!}^ acquainted with 

 the great value of the indigenous plants. The flora of the north- 

 west might be described as intermediate in character between 

 that found in New England* and that growing in the Darling 

 country,! though there are many plants common to these three 



* These Proceedings, 190:^, p. 276. 

 t These Proceedings, 1903, p. 406. 



