8 MEDICINAIj plants of QTJEENSLAin), 



around Brisbane ; its quick growth, large white flowers, and 

 graceful foliage causing it to be a general favourite. 



S. ^gyptiaca, Pers., another sj)ecies of this genus found around 

 the Gulf of Carpentaria, and also in Asia and Africa, is said by 

 the Hindoos to possess the power of hastening suppuration when 

 applied as a poultice, which is simply made with warmed leaves 

 moistened by a little castor oil. The flowers of this species are 

 yellow and purple, borne in pendulous racemes. 



S. aculeata, Pers., is much more generally met with in Australia 

 and although I find no medicinal properties attributed to it, yet 

 probably it would serve the same purposes as the last. It is also 

 similarly wide-spread in other countries ; its favourite habitat 

 in Queensland is on the borders of swamps. In Northern 

 Queensland, according to Mr. T. A. Grulliver, the natives make 

 bread of the seeds. I am of opinion that this is the true Nardoo 

 of the Cooper's Creek natives. The unfortunats explorers, 

 Burke and Wills, might easily have mistaken the sporecases of a 

 Marsilea for the shelled-out seeds of Seshania. Writing to my 

 friend Mr. Grulliver on the subject, he says : — ^^ I think it quite 

 possible that such a mistake was made by the unfortunate 

 explorers who first brought the ''Nardoo" into notice, more 

 especially as I find the natives here (Nonnan Eiver) do not seem 

 to care about the Marsilea seed, and as far as I have seen it does 

 not produce sufi&cient seed to make it worth collecting ; whereas 

 the Seshania is very prolific and can be gathered without any, or 

 rather, with very little trouble. This species has more numerous 

 leaflets than the last, the flowers are also smaller, with erect 

 racemes. The prickles are minute, or altogether wanting. 



Sar denier gia monophylla, Benth., (Native Sarsaparilla). The 

 roots of this beautiful purple flowered twiner are used by bushmen 

 as a substitute for the true sarsaparilla, which is obtained from a 

 widely different plant. I cannot vouch for any medicinal 

 properties. 



