BY F. M. BAILEY, F.L.S. 129 



PoRTULACA OLERACEA, var. graiidiflora, Benth. The small 

 seeds of this plant furnish the natives with a highly nutritious 

 food. The whole plant is often roasted by them also for food. 



Tribulus occmENTALis, U. Br. The specimens obtained 

 by Dr. Bancroft leave no doubt upon my mind as to their being 

 identical with the above species partly described by Dr. Robt. 

 Brown in appendix to Capt. Start's expedition, and also the 

 flowers referred to by Mr. Bentham, Flora AustraUemis, Vol. I., 

 p. 289, as having been gathered near the Fink River. The flowers 

 are large, showy, and well worthy of garden culture. 



PsoRALEA PATENS, Liudl. Tliis plant is said to attain the 

 lieight of 6ft., and to produce a large quantity of strong tough 

 fibre. P. Archerii, F.r.M., is another species of the genus, 

 from the stems of which the natives obtain fibre for bag and 

 net-making. These two plants should be worth cultivating for 

 the sake of their fibre. Mr. E. Palmer gives the mode adopted 

 by the natives to obtain the fibre as follows : — '* They pull the 

 plants up, soak in water for some hours, then take them out 

 and alloAV to dry, when the fibrous bark peels off and is ready 

 for use." 



Tephrosia ROSEA, F. V. M. This small shrub is reported 

 both in Port Darwin and Queensland as a poison bush injurious 

 to stock. 



Sesbania aculeata, Ptrs. (the Pea-bush), is a useful 

 plant. The stems yield a good fibre, and seeds are largely 

 depended upon by the natives for food. In India the same use is 

 made of the seeds. 



Cassia Sturtii, B. Br. Duriiag the last year or so, speci- 

 mens of this shrub have been sent to me as a suspected poison 

 bush. 



Acacia peuce, F. v. ^L A useful timber tree. The wood 

 is extremely hard, and known in the district as " Ironwood." 

 The long needle-shaped leaves give to the tree a pine-like appear- 

 ance, and the broad thin curled pods somewhat resemble those 

 of the American Honey-locust. 



• A. aneura, F. r. ^[. (The Mulga). Amongst Dr. Ban" 

 croft's specimens are two or three forms of this useful cattle- 

 bush. 



