FLORA OF THE TORRES STRAITS. 443 
MONOCOTYLEDONS. 
Orchidee. (Orchis Family.) 
Sarcochilus phyllorrhizus, F.v.M. 
A leafless species which is rather plentiful on scrub trees, adher- 
ing to the bark by its broad, thin, flat roots. 
Scitaminee. (Arrowroot Family.) 
Curcuma australasica, Hook. 
The annual flower stems arising from a fleshy rhizome, bracts 
of the flower spikes rose-coloured, flowers pale yellow. Found on 
the hill-sides amongst rocks. 
Hemodoracere. (Blood-root Family.) 
Hemodorum coccineum, R.Br. ‘ Blood-root.” ‘‘ On-tho” of the 
Mitchell natives (E. Palmer). 
A very showy, erect plant, with grass-like leaves and a terminal 
corymbose panicle of red flowers ; very showy. Amongst rocks, 
in more or less damp spots Mr. E. Palmer informs us that on the 
Mitchell River the natives obtain the fibre from the leaves of this 
plant with which they make the bags used for straining Karro* 
meal. 
Amaryllidee. (Amaryllis Family.) 
Curculigo ensifolia, R.Br. 
Stem short, rhizome with fibrous roots, leaves grass-like, flower 
spikes short, at base of leaves. 
Dioscoridee. (Yam Family.) 
Dioscorea (?) kumaonensis, Kunth. ‘ Yam.” 
From the foliage and bulbils. The plants I found growing in 
the gullies between the hills seem closely allied to the above 
species, but I found neither flowers or fruit. It seems to be of 
rather slender growth. The leaves of from three to five lanceolate 
digitate leaflets, and the stem, petioles, and veins of the leaves more 
or iess hairy. 
Liliacee, (Lily Family.) 
Smilax australis, R.Br. ‘ Australian Sarsaparilla.” 
A tall, prickly scrub climber ; leaves large ; flowers in umbels ; 
berries black. 
Dracena angustifolia, Roxb. ‘ Narrow-leaved Dragon-tree.” 
A small tree, with long narrow leaves and terminal panicles of 
white narrow flowers. Fruit yellow, more than } inch diameter, 
pulpy inside, containing one to three large seeds. 
Dianella cerulea, Sims. ‘“ Blue-berry.” 
A plant with distichous leaves and blue flowers and berries. .-“*/7*" 
= “ee 
Cc 
Li@gapy; 
eZ. wee 
