BY THE REV. J. E. TEXISOX-WOODS, F.L.S. 135 



botanists may take, if tliey wish to pursue the subject further. 

 There are in the flora of Brisbane certain plants which do not 

 occur in other parts of Australia where they are so accessible. 

 They are so intimately connected with valuable trees or shrubs, 

 that it would be most important to ascertain if they possessed 

 the same useful characters. Thus in the order Styracac ■ cc, we 

 have a species of Symphcos* (S. spicata, Eoxb.), and all the 

 members of the genus are valuable as dyes or teas. In the 

 Ebcnacccc we have two species of ebony (JDiosprjros)\ and as the 

 black wood which bears the name is derived from several species, 

 we may hope to find ebony in Australia. It should be 

 remembered that the heart-wood is the only valuable portion, 

 the outer or sap wood being soft and worthless. In the 

 order Sapotacea we have four species of Achras. The fruits of 

 many trees of this genus are eaten, and the bark of A. sapota, 

 which grows in the West Indies, is considered equal to Cinchona 

 as a febrifuge. It is a tree of this order (Isonandra guita, Hook.) 

 which yields the valuable gutta-percha of commerce. We have 

 also a species of Chnjsophyllum, a genus which yields the star 

 apple of the West Indies. The remarkable gum which exudes 

 from our Achras Australia is worth investigation. I can answer 

 for its disagreeable tenacity when it gets about the hands. 

 Amongst the Ardisiads (Myrsinaceos) we have three genera. The 

 whole are said to be more or less stimulating in their leaves, 

 roots, or bark. Amongst the Rubiaceoe we have Morinda, many 

 of the species of which yield a red dye. Ixora is said to have 

 valuable medicinal qualities. Among the Violacece a good many 

 species of Ionidiani are emetic, and used as a remedy in 

 Elephantiasis. Dr. Bancroft, of India, speaks favorably of it. J 



* This genus is very variously placed by different authors, 

 f In the " Flora Australiensis " the Australian species are placed in R. Brown's 

 genus Cargillia, because of the two ovules in each ovary cell. 



X See "Periera," Vol. II., Part 2, p. 575. Also " Conip. Bot. Mag., 1, 278 

 Flora Medica. 



