88 AN INTERIM CENSUS OF CYANOPflORIC PLANTS. 



Bail. (Brumiich, 1904), Xylomeluvi pyrifarme Knight 

 (Petrie, 1912), {d) Hidcsbeadiia j^iniiatifoUa F.v.M., (e) 

 Lomatia silaifoUa R.Br., (/) GreviUea Banksii R. Br., [g) 

 ? G. sp. (•' Silver Oak.") 



(a) J/. fernifoUa, the common " Queensland Nut," 

 produces an exceedingly pleasant-flavoured edible seed. 



(6) The seeds of 21. Whelani, which are powerfully 

 eyanophoric, are used as food after careful prej)aration by 

 the aborigines in North Queensland ; some nuts gathered 

 by Meston's Bellenden Ker Expedition in 1904, and tested 

 bj' us 11 years after, in 1915, gave a positive reaction. 



(c) Mr. R. Illidge informs us that the seed of the 

 " Small Queensland Nut," 31. minor, a small tree, fairly 

 common in the Gympie and Blackall Range "" scrubs," 

 A\as alwaj's regarded bj' the settlers in the early days, and 

 by the aborigines, as poisonous, and tests carried out with 

 both foliage and fruit gave strong positive reactions ; the 

 nut, however, is commonh' eaten in moderation "wdthout 

 any ill effects : its bitter taste was noted b}' Tryon^-, who 

 suggested the presence therein of prussic acid. 



(d) Both fohage and seed of HicTcsheachia 'pimmtifolia 

 gave a positive reaction ; the pericarp of the fruit a negative 

 test ; the seeds are commonly eaten, but not in very great 

 quantity, for, as far as our observations go, the trees do 

 not bear verj' large crops, and the nut is of poor quality ; 

 in Southern Queensland it is known as the " Beef Nut." 



(e) A. G. Hamilton 13 has recorded the fact that fhes 

 feeding on the nectar of Lomatia flowers died in numbers, 

 and further stated that Dr. Petrie was of the opinion that 

 hydrocyanic acid was the cause. Some flowering sjoraj-s 

 of L. silaifoUa were recently brought in to us by Mr. T. A. 

 Brown, Wellington Point, who observed that bunches 

 placed on the table attracted and killed flies. The panicles 

 cut up and tested in the usual wa}" gave a positive 

 reaction. The foliage ga\e a negative test. 



(/) Leaves gave a negative, flowers and fruit a strong 

 positive test. 



(g) Fresh leaves of the tree known in the Atherton 

 tableland area in Northern Queensland as " Silver Oak " 

 gave a positive test ; our specimens are imperfect, and 



