412 150TANV OF THE DAKLlNfi, N.S.W., 



Tlie greater number, however, are dwarf-growing plants. Such 

 genera as Jlelichrysum, Helipterum^ etc., which produce what are 

 known as everlasting Howers, are very show}' and in ordinary 

 seasons grow to perfection. The tlowers are much esteemed by 

 settlers in the interior, who use them for house decoration. 

 Several species of the genus (Jalotis are disliked by the sheep- 

 owner on account of the "l)urr"-like fruiting heads which they 

 produce. The pappus surmounting each achene is composed of 

 barbed bristles or sharp spines which get matted in the fleece, 

 and being most ditticult to get out, to a certain extent cause a 

 depreciation in the value of the wool from a commercial point of 

 view. Tlie introduced South American plant called "Bathurst 

 burr" [XiDithium spinosuni, Linn.) is another very troublesome 

 weed to the sheep owner. It has not spread as much, however, 

 as I thought it would a few years ago; still it is fairly abundant 

 in many places. The snulf plants, Myriogyne minuta, Less., and 

 M racemoaa, Hook., are common in certain seasons, and usually 

 grow on land liable to periodical inundation. The late Rev. Dr. 

 W. Woolls, F.L.S., published some interesting particulars about 

 these plants a few years ago. Goodenoviece are more largely 

 represented in the western flora than one would expect. Several 

 species of Goodenia and allied genera are an interesting sight 

 when in bloom. Under Camjjanulaced' there are only three genera, 

 but two pretty flowering species of Isotoma and the Australian 

 " l)lue bell," Wahlenhergia gracilis, DC, when in flowei- arrest 

 attention. Pratia erecta, Gaud., of this family is a suspected 

 poison plant. The climbing plants are not very numerous as 

 regards species, but fre(j[uently one meets with a single repre- 

 sentative of the following genera: Chmatis, Jasminum, Parsonsia, 

 Lyonsia, Pentratropis, Marsdenia, and Tecoma. The first and 

 last named of these produce the showiest flowers. A curious 

 plant is Sarcostemnia australe, R.Br. In Queensland it is said 

 to be very poisonous to stock, and in West Australia it has the 

 reputation of being a good forage plant. My description of it 

 has been published by the Government of West Australia for the 

 information of land owners of the western State. Quite a number 



