410 UOTANV OF THE DARLING, X.S.W., 



the "wilira" {Geijera parvi/fora, Lindl.) which is often, and I 

 think rightly, described as the most graceful tree of the interior, 

 and the " native cumquat," Atalantia glauca, Hook. Of Owenia 

 acidula, F.v.M., the " Colane," there is a pretty legend told by 

 the aborigines of the Bogan. On some of my travels I have 

 frequently remarked how very rarely a young "Colane" was to 

 be seen, notwithstanding the fact that the old trees produce 

 (luantities of fruit which when ripe fall off' and sometimes lie 

 thick upon the ground under the branches. The blacks say that 

 " little fellow moth comes out of fruit, flies along the plain, 

 lays egg in the ground, and up comes 'Colane.'" The fruit is 

 certainly attacked by some insect and the germ probably 

 destroyed in a number, for small, circular holes may be seen in 

 the hard putamen of many of those that have lain on the ground 

 for some time. The reason, however, that so few^ young trees are 

 seen is probably because stock eat them before they have a chance 

 to grow to any height. An allied tree, Flindersia maculosa, 

 F.V.M., has a remarkably spotted trunk, hence its popular name 

 " Leopard tree." Its leaves make good feed for stock, and from 

 its trunk and larger branches exude quantities of an amber- 

 coloured gum of a pleasant taste, but it is not collected as a 

 commercial product. The Leguminous plants of this region are 

 both numerous and interesting, and when in bloom show to great 

 advantage. Amongst the plants producing the showiest flowers 

 are " Sturt's desert pea" [Clianthus dampieri, A. Cunn.), and 

 those known locally as "Darling pea " {Swainsona spp.). These 

 beautiful flowering plants have long since attracted the attention 

 of horticulturists, and may now be seen growing in many Aus- 

 tralian gardens on the eastern side of the Dividing Range as well 

 as in the plant houses of Europe and America. Two species of 

 Sioainsona, IS. greyana, Lindl., and >S'. galegifolia, K.Br., are 

 suspected poison plants, the latter species having a bad reputa- 

 tion amonijst stockowners.* 



* See Fred. Turner's and F. B. Guthrie's description and analysis of 

 this plant, Agri. Gaz. of N.S.W., Vol. iv., p. 84. 



