Flora of AvMralHi.. 63 



The two first localities are Victorian, the two last are in 

 New South Wales. The plant is now permanently established 

 as a naturalised alien in Victoria and New South Wales, and 

 is very generally reported as being injurious or poisonous to 

 stock, especially sheep. It is a native of North and South 

 America now widely diffused over the warmer regions of the 

 globe, and even occurring in gardens. No sjDecies of the 

 genus is known to be poisonous, so that any injurious action 

 the plant may have is probably a mechanical one. 



ZOSTERA MARINA, L. 



This is mentioned in the " Weeds and Poison Plants of Vic- 

 toria," p. 91, on the strength of a specimen from Williamson 

 as new to Victoria, j)ossibly introduced. On further investiga- 

 tion I find that the specimens on wliich the Zostera nana of 

 Bentham's Flora are based are mainly Zo'itera uiari/ta, being 

 distinguished by their large size, broader leaves, more numer- 

 ous veins, and seeds with longitudinal ridges or veins, instead 

 of cjuite smooth as in Z. nana. 



Zostera ?uarina is found on flat, sandy or nniddy shores 

 around the whole coast of Australia, including Tasmania. 



ZosTKRA NANA, F. K. Merfcens. 



Has apparently an ec^ually wide range, but is less common. 

 By some it has been considered a variety only of Z. ?narina, 

 but the species can readily be distinguislied by the characters 

 given above. The Victorian Flora therefore includes three 

 species of Zostera. Z. manna: Z. nana and Z. fasnianira. 

 The last named is intermediate in size between Z. marina and 

 Z. 'iiatia, and is distinguished from the latter by its pale seeds, 

 1)roader tloral sheaths and bractless flowers. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES. 



Platk XTI. — Halgania kkkcta. 

 Fig. L — Plant of Halgania erecta Ewart and Rees (about 

 natural size). 

 2. — Single young leaf showing hairs (enlarged). 



