\ 



307 



in this note, is considerably higher than that obtained by 

 Mr. Norman, being 19*6 for the two tubers (see above), and only 

 10-7 (i.e., 0-77 caoutchouc to 7*16 dried extracted residue) in the 

 tuber analysed by Mr. Norman. For this comparison the dried 

 extracted residue is treated as though equivalent to the dried 

 tubers (a and b). The latter, however, must have contained some 

 substances soluble in water, and traces of moisture and resin, so 

 that their weight reads a little too high, and the percentage of 

 caoutchouc too low. The difference between the two percentages 

 should therefore be somewhat greater than the figures show." 



L. A. B. 



Romulea as a Pest in Australia.— In the Agricultural Gazette 

 of New South Wales, xii., 1902, pp. 232-236, an account has been 

 given by Mr. R. Helms of the occurrence of " Romulea rosea " as 

 a weed, said to have been introduced into Australia from South 

 Africa more than 60 years previously. Since the publication of 

 this paper, specimens of the plant have been sent to Kew for 

 determination, as doubts have arisen as to its identity. It has 

 been proclaimed under the Thistle Act as a noxious weed under 

 the name of Romulea cruciata. 



The following letter has been received at Kew on the subject of 

 this plant from Mr. James Tovey, Viola, Como Parade, Mentone, 

 Victoria : — 



May 4, 1908. 



" I have to thank you for your kindness in naming the Romulea 

 for me. If I am not trespassing too much on your valuable time 

 I would like a little information on the following:— 



■ 



"Is Romulea cruciata, Ker-Gawl, considered at Kew to be a 



m 



" I find that after having examined several score of flowers of 

 this introduced Irid, that the style is always shorter than stamens, 

 whereas the style of R. rosea. Eckl., is longer than the stamens. 

 Would not the fact of the style being always shorter than the 

 stamens and smaller flowers distinguish it from R. rosea and 

 bring it under R. cruciata ? 



" If R. cruciata is a good species ? 



u 



The reason I am troubling you so much on the subject is that 

 — J Irid has spread over a large portion of this State and has 

 become a perfect pest, and has 'even been proclaimed under the 

 Thistle Act as a noxious weed, under the name Romulea cruaafu, 

 Ker-Gawl. And as there is great confusion here over its identifi- 

 cation, I would be pleased if you could enlighten me further on 

 the subject." 



out in transverse section resembling a Maltese cross, the rays Denis 

 of equal length. Romulea cruciata, Beguinot (Engl. Jamo. 

 xxxviii., 335), described as " foliis cylindrico-hnearibus, wiae 



