ID July. lyi^-] Vcniacidar Xamcs of Victorian Plants. ^43 



VERNACULAR NAMES OF VICTORIAN PLANTS. 



CoDimunkated by Alfred J. Eivart, D.Sc. Ph.D., F.L.S., Chairman, and 

 C. S. Sutton, M.B., CJi.B., Secretary, of the Plant Xames Committee 

 of the Victorian Field Naturalists' Club. 



In the Journal of Agriculture for 191 i, a list of the vernacular names 

 for approximately one-third of the Victorian flora was given. The present 

 list comprises the second third of the flora extending from Dilleniaceae to 

 the Myrtaceae. As in the previous list opportunity has been taken at the. 

 same time to add data in regard to the economic value or use of all the 

 native plants mentioned. In some cases in particular it is surprising what 

 little importance is attached to many native plants of pronounced decora- 

 tive value for garden purposes, and in hardly any case have our native 

 plants been used for selective garden cultivation, although there can be no 

 doubt that it would be possible to raise from many of them garden plants 

 equal in interest and. beauty to any at present known. Such genera as 

 Pultenaea and Acacia afford an almost unlimited opportunity for the 

 activities of the plant breeder in search of garden novelties, and our native 

 Violets, Boronias, Phebaliums, Eriostemons, and others, particularly among 

 the Papilionaceae. are not only worthy of garden cultivation in their present 

 form, but should improve under cultivation from a gardener's point of 

 view. 



Even in the case of plants for which a definite economic value has been 

 recogni-sed, it cannot be said that in all cases full recognition of their 

 economic value has been made. For instance, although the value of salt- 

 bushes as fodder plants for dry districts is recognised in theory, it is 

 certainly not always recognised in practice, since in many districts the more 

 useful saltbushes have been allowed to be eaten right out by stock, and 

 it is only very rarelv indeed that any attempt at replanting has been made. 

 The fact that large quantities of saltbush seed have been exported abroad, 

 particularly to America, is sufficient to show that other countries have 

 recognised the value of these plants for fodder in dry districts, and have 

 found it profitable to plant them and encourage their spread. Even in 

 the case of the Acacias, which are among the best appreciated of our native 

 plants, it is surely an anomaly that Australia .should be importing wattle- 

 bark from Australian Acacias, grown in other countries. Apart from the 

 Acacias, ..the present list does not include many native timber trees, but the 

 Sheokes, Bulokes, and Belar, the Myrtle Beech, and the Yellow' Wood, 

 are of more or less importance as supplying firewood or timber for special 

 purposes. 



In regard to the vernacular names, the present list, like the previous one, 

 is provisional, and is open to suggestions or criticisms. Many criticisms 

 or suggestions have alreadv been received, discussed, and, in som.e cases, 

 adapted by the Commitlee, but for the most part the names put forward 

 have met with general approval, and seem likely to be generally accepted. 

 The working Committee has undergone but little alteration since the last 

 issue. Mr. McLennan, owing to his appointment to the Principalship of 



