BY F. M. BAILEY, F.L.S. 27 



in starch. It is somewhat astring-ent and diuretic and is employed 

 in the east of Asia in dysentery, gonorrhoea, and the measles. 

 This well-known plant is abundant in the swamps throughout 

 the colony. 



In the large order Cyperacece or sedges, several of our species 

 have been found to possess j)i^operties which have been taken 

 advantage of for healing disease, but none in a very high degree. 

 Thus the roots of Kyllinga triceps, Eolth., is said to be employed 

 in the East Indies in diabetes and as a stomachic, for which its 

 acridity combined with some aroma has recommended it. 



The tubers of our pest the Nutgrass Cyperus rotund us, Linn., 

 are said to be administered successfully in cases of cholera by 

 Hindoo practitioners. Sa'rjms lacustris, Linn., the Lake Club 

 Eush, is a tall rush found in many of our swamps, the root-stock 

 of which is said to be employed as an astringent and diuretic. 



Remirea maritima, Aubl., a tropical sedge, often seen on our 

 tropical coast sands, which it helps to bind with its long creeping 

 stems ; is said to be a powerful diaphoretic and diuretic. Scleria 

 litliosperma, Willd., a hard white-seeded sedge of which we have 

 a form on the Brisbane Eiver, is supposed upon the Malabar 

 coast to have antinephritic virtues. 



Gramineae or Grasses. This is undoubtedly the most interesting 

 and useful order of plants in the whole natural system, for from 

 it is derived the principal food for both man and beast, but few 

 of this large order have any reputation as medicinal plants. A 

 fragrant aromatic secretion is present in many of our Anclropogons 

 particularly in A. homhycinus, E. Br., A. sclicenanthus, var Martini 

 and A. refr actus, E. Br. This latter species I believe has been 

 generally looked upon as endemic, but some specimens were given 

 me a few months back by Mr. F. J. C. Wildash, which he had 

 gathered while in Japan, at a place where there was little 

 probability of its having been introduced. Elionurus citreus, 

 Munro, is another fragrant grass. From the roots of our common 



