43 



before tliey stopped work. For bushinen, or those camped 

 out in the bush, it has the great advantage of burning freely 

 when green. The bark of all the species of this section 

 bums fiercely ; so much so, indeed, that in Northern Queens- 

 land the bark of the local species is used by blacksmiths for 

 heating tires of wheels and other pieces of work too large to 

 be placed in the forge, and I daresay this is the case in the 

 other Australian colonies. To Mr. Thomas Stephens belongs 

 the credit of having added this forest tree to the Tasmanian 

 Flora, he having told me of it before I left town on my first 

 visit to G-eorge's Bay, and stated his conviction that it was 

 a species not hitherto known as Tasmanian, or possibly a 

 new species altogether. 



2nd. Helichrysurn Spiceri, Mueller, a new species of the 

 "everlasting" or immortelles flowers, which I discovered first 

 in December, 1876, on the roadside, going from Longley 

 towards the Sandfly coal seam. There was only one plant, 

 which was bushy and covered with flowers. 



The following December I passed the spot a second time, 

 and found the same plant again in blossom. Unfortunately 

 on neither occasion had I time to search for more specimens. 



I have not yet seen Baron Miieller's description of this 

 plant, nor do I know if he has yet published it. No doubt 

 he will communicate the particulars to the Society in due 

 time. 



It is quite unlike any other Helichrysurn occurring 'a this 

 colony, and is a very pretty shrubby plant. It is n.;tch to 

 be desired that any one residing in the vicinity, or passing 

 by the locality, should search for more specimens. 



The Society will, no doubt, be glad to hear that Baron 

 Mueller has named this new species after the Rev. Mr. 

 Spicer, as he says, " in acknov/ledgment of the exertions 

 made by our reverend friend for the furtherance of Tas- 

 manian Botany." 



In conclusion, I hope the recent discovery of these three 

 conspicuous plants, after the census of the Tasmanian Flora 

 was supposed to be complete, may, by showing that there 

 are still discoveries of new plants to be made, stimulate 

 others to search carefully for other new species. 



In the event of any plant not agreeing with the descrip- 

 tions given in Mr. Spicer' s " Handbook of the Plants of 

 Tasmania," or in the more elaborate works of Hooker and 

 Bentham, it is advisable in all cases to send the specimen to 

 Baron Mueller, who will, no doubt, with his usual courtesy, 

 give the name, or state whether the plant is of a species new 

 to Tasmania. 



Gould's Country, 29th April, 1879. 



