io8 Williamson, Botanical Notes of a Trip to Milduva. [ 



Vict. Nat. 

 Vol. XXX. 



a plant he called " Bindi." I think these Bassias must be 

 responsible for the trouble. In a wet flat near the railway 

 large bushes of Rhagodia spinescens. Thorny Salt-bush, were 

 growing, and between them grew Marsilea qiiadrifoUa, Nardoo, 

 Veronica peregrina, Wandering Speedwell, Myositrus minimus. 

 Mouse-tail, and Raniincitliis parviftonis. Small-flowered Butter- 

 cup. 



Another spot, interesting chiefly for its show of flowers, 

 was a vacant space in front of the residence of Mr. W. B. 

 Chaffey, one of the promoters of the settlement. There were 

 shrubs of Templetonia egena. Round Templetonia, covered with 

 dull yellow flowers, bushes of Olearia pimeleoides, Pimelea 

 Aster, showing masses of large white flowers like garden 

 marguerites, the Cassias, Sturtii, Dense Cassia, and evemophila, 

 Desert Cassia, with their yellow flowers, as well as Acacia 

 salicina, not fully in flower. These, with some plants of Twin- 

 leaf and other herbs previously named, made a splendid show. 

 The settlement area, I understand, was once covered with 

 timber, but one would scarcely think so, as few stray specimens 

 of trees remain. All vacant blocks are covered with salt- 

 bushes and blue-bush, invaders in neglected territory. On 

 one open space near the State school are the Kochias, villosa, 

 pyramidala, and sedi folia — the last-named called " Blue-bush," 

 although the name " White-bush" would suit it better — Bassia 

 sclerolcEiioides, Woolly-fruited Salt-bush, Enchylcpna tomentosa. 

 Ruby-bush, Salsola kali. Prickly Saltwort, Chenopodium micro- 

 phyllttm. Small-leaved Goosefoot, and Atriplex semihaccatum. 

 Berry Salt-bush. 



The following plants are found in the railway enclosure and 

 on various vacant blocks in the centre of the town : — Kochia 

 brachyptera. Wingless Blue-bush, Atriplex spongiosum, Spongy 

 Salt-bush, Bassia paradoxa. Curious Salt-bush, Rhagodia nutans. 

 Nodding Salt-bush, Chenopodium atriplicinum. Purple Goose- 

 foot, besides most of the Twinleafs and Cassia Sturtii, which 

 last appeared at its best. The new Agricultural High School 

 stands on a block of virgin land, and many of the plants just 

 named are found there. Zygophyllum fruticulosum. Shrubby 

 Twinleaf, and a narrow-leaved form of Z. Billardieri, Coast 

 Twinleaf (so common at Queen--cliff), were flowering nicely on 

 the old fence round the block. With regard to this genus, it 

 will be noticed that I collected all the seven Victorian species, 

 as well as an eighth as a new record. All were in bloom. In 

 this block were shrubs and herbs showing neither flowers nor 

 fruit, and I am sure that a list of plants growing in those few 

 acres would be an interesting record, if made by the nature 

 students of the school. The plants, I expect, will all give place 

 shortly to more valuable products, when every available foot 

 will be under cultivation. 



