BY JOSEPH LAUTERER, M.D. 



101 



quantities of a gum which proves very useful where a strong 

 astringent is required. The powdery deposit in cold solutions is 

 of a resinous nature but free from a nauseous smell. Australia 

 is much richer in astringents than any other part of the world. 

 Nearly all myrtaceous plants give as good infusions as the roots 

 and herb of Polygonum, Potentilla, Geum, &c., still used and 

 prescribed in the old country, and none of them is poisonous. 

 The leaves and young shoots of all species of Leptospermum are 

 at least of the same service to the urinary organs and against 

 gravel as those of the European Uva ursi. The twigs of the 

 native cherry-tree (Exocarpus cupressifowns) prove as good a 

 bitter tonic and astringent as the South American Rhatany 

 {Krameria triandra). Passing over to another class of remedies, 

 we find our native senna leaves {Cassia austrnlis) efficacious 

 enough, and the same holds good for the native Gratiola 

 peruviana in the swamps. Many of our plants are as rich in 

 mucilage as the marsh-mallow, and could be used for the same 

 purposes as this ; for instance, the species of Sida, Plagianthus, 

 and Hibiscus. Acacia dealbata yields a gum as good as gum 

 tragacanth and gum arable. A great variety of essential oils is 

 yielded by our native plants. They can be used for many 

 purposes, but I leave the continuation of this paper for another 

 meeting. 



A TEir TO THE DARLING RIVER. NEW SOUTH 

 WALES. IN THE YEAR 1859. 



By Hon. A. NORTON. 



[Read before the Royal Society of Queensland, 15tlt June and 

 Uth July, 1894.] 



NOTES ON FRESH QUEENSLAND PLANTS. 



By F. M. bailey, F.L.S. 



[Read before the Royal Society of Queensland, lith July, 1894.] 



