THE CAMEL FODDER-PLANTS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 171 



1*0 cm. long., canaliculati. Peduncvili circa 1*5 cm. loug., mia cum 

 peclicellis compressiusculi, 0-5-0*8 cm. loug., dense ac minute 

 I'urfuraceo-tomentosi. Bractete laterales 0-4-0'6 cm. long,, ob- 

 tusissimte, earum pars libera 0-l-0'2 cm. long. ; bractea lateralis 

 0*5-0"8 cm. long., pars libera 0-15-0-6 cm. long., bracteae omnes 

 furfm-aceo-tomentosfe. Alabastra erecta, clavata, eorum tubus 

 parum compressus, 0'3 cm. lat., apice fere usque 0"5 cm. lat. 

 ibique subtetragona. Calycis limbus brevissimus, lobulatus; tubus 

 vix 0-5 cm. loug. et lat. Petala usque 2-7 cm. long., ultra 

 staminum insertionem patentia, intus glabra et rubra. Filamenta 

 tota 2-3 cm. long., eorum pars libera 0-5 cm. long. Antherae 

 0-12 cm. lat., 04 cm. long. Stylus filiformis, petalis subsequi- 

 longus. Bacca iguota. 



A remarkable species, quite distinct from any bitberto described 

 from Australia. Its affinity appears to be with L. Quandany Ldl. 

 and L. grandibracteatus F. Muell. The points by which the present 

 plant can best be distinguished are the flat densely tomentose leaves, 

 and the still denser and longer tomentum covering the broad flowers 

 and their peduncles and pedicels. The petals also are connate below. 

 L. gibber ulus Tate, which I have not seen, has apparently the same 

 tomentum, but its leaves are terete and narrow, and there are 

 several other important diflerences. Perhaps this ought not to 

 have been included as a camel-food, as some camels reject it ; 

 others, however, will eat it. The objection to it seems to be founded 

 upon the presence of the tomentum. 



Conifer^.. 



73. Frenela robiista A. Cuuu, Strange to say, camels will take 

 a few mouthfuls from this tall shrub, though it contains much resin. 



Gramine^. 



74. Eiagrostis cli(Etophylla Steud. A little of this and other 

 grasses is occasionally eaten by camels, especially when the haulms 

 are in an early fresh state. 



Before closing, I should like to say a few words about the 

 poisoning of camels. That this has occurred upon the goldfields, 

 the circumstantial narratives one has received leave no manner of 

 doubt ; where uncertainty lurks is in regard to the species of plants 

 which have so injurious an efl'ect. The Gastrolobiums and other 

 of their allies of the tribe Fodalyiim would in all probability be fatal 

 to camels, as they so often are in the western parts of the colony to 

 sheep and cattle ; and the same remark should apply to specie's of 

 Solanuiii. However, though I made frequent enquiries about poison- 

 plants, and though several prospectors averred their acquaintance 

 with such, some even promising to produce them, yet I never came 

 across a single authenticated poison. One description given to me 

 led me to infer that at the Hospital Rocks, near Mount Ida, a species 

 of Solamiin deserves a sinister reputation ; and in the Duudas Gold- 

 iield, south of Coolgardie, where there is undoubtedly much poison, 

 the culprit was described as looking much like a gum-tree, but what 

 this can be it is difficult to surmise. It is worthy of remark that 



