4 MEDICmAIi PLANTS OF|qTJEENSLAND, 



Of Cochlospermum a genus of Bixinec^ there are five species in 

 Australia one of which is considered by Mr. Bentham likely to 

 prove identical with the East Indian C. gossypium from the stems 

 of which is obtained a gum, called kuteera, which is used as a 

 substitute for gum tragacanth, because of its viscidity. A 

 decoction of the roots of some of the Brazilian species is used 

 against internal pains, particularly those resulting from falls. In 

 the same parts, a decoction is said to cure abscesses. From the 

 roots of an African species a yellow dye is obtained, which is 

 called Fayar, used for dying cotton stuffs as well as in medicine 

 in cases of amenorrhsea. From the above one we might fairly 

 imagine our species to possess some medicinal virtues. The 

 greatly admired shade tree of the beach at Oardwell, belonging 

 to GuttifercB now well known by its botanical name of Calophyllum 

 inophyllmn, Linn., besides its value as a shade tree in the tropics 

 exudes from its trunk a greenish coloured resin called East Indian 

 Tacamahac. The seeds also yield a thick, dark-green, strong- 

 scented oil, employed in India for burning and also medicinally. 

 In India an oil is expressed from the seeds of C. tomentosum, a 

 tree according to Baron Mueller's ''Fragmenta Phytographise 

 Australia," also met with in the ranges about Eockingham 

 Bay. 



The three following Malvaceous plants have been found useful 

 medicinally — Sida cordifolia, Linn. A coarse under shrub, more 

 or less clothed with velvety, often star-shaped hairs, and some- 

 what heart-shaped leaves borne on rather long stalks at the base 

 of which it produces its small yeUow flowers. This plant, like 

 our common Sida weed, to which it is closely allied, is met with 

 in most tropical countries. In India the leaves are mixed with 

 rice, and given to alleviate dysentery. The Queensland 

 habitat is Peak Downs, &c. It may not be generally known 

 that the ripe carpels of Sida rhomhifolia, Linn., the common Sida 

 weed of Queensland often cause the death of fowls that feed on 

 them, by the sharp terminal arms of the carpels irritating the 



