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166 AUSTRALIAN VEGETATION. 
to these northern regions. Hibiscus tiliaceus, with other malvaceous 
plants, is here chosen by the natives for the fibre of the fishing-nets 
and cordage. An occasional interspersion of the dazzling Erythrina 
vespertilio, of Bauhinia Leichardti, Erythrophlceum Laboucheri, Livis- 
tonia Palms, many Terminalice, some with edible fruits, Cochlospermum 
Xiregorii, and C. heteronemum, remind, however, of the flora of tropical 
latitudes, which, moreover, to the eye of an experienced observer is 
revealed also in a multitude of smaller plants, either identical with 
South Asiatic species or representing in peculiar forms tropical genera. 
The identity of about 600 Asiatic plants (some cosmopolitan) with 
native Australian species has been placed beyond doubt ; and to this 
series of absolutely identical forms, as well derived from the jungle as 
from grounds free of forest, unquestionably several hundred will yet be 
added. 
Melaleuca Leucadendron,iheCa]eipxit'tree of India, is among Indo- Aus- 
tralian trees one of the most universal ; it extends, as one of the largest 
timber trees of North Australia, along many of its rivers, and in diminu- 
tive size over the dry sandstone table-lands. The Asiatic and Paciiic 
Casuarina equisetifolia accompanies it often in the vicinity of the coast. 
By far the most remarkable form in the vegetation of North- West 
Australia is the Gouty-Stem-tree (Adamonia Gregorii) ; but it is re- 
stricted to a limited tract of coast country. It assumes precisely the 
bulky form of its only congener, the Monkey Bread-tree, or Baobab of 
tropical Africa (Adansonia digitata), dissimilar mainly in having its 
nuts not suspended on long fruitstalks. Evidence, though not con- 
clusive, gained in Australia, when applied to the African Baobab, ren- 
ders it improbable that the age of any individual tree now in existence 
dates from remote antiquity. This view is also held by Dr. G. 
Bennett, of Sydney. The tree is of economic importance. Its stem 
yields a mucilage indurating to a tragacanth-like gum. It is also one 
of the few trees which introduces the unwonted sight of deciduous fo- 
liage into the evergreen Australian vegetation. Numerous swamps 
and smaller lakes exist within moderate distance of the coast. As m 
many other parts of Australia, these waters are surrounded by the 
wiry Polygonum (Muehlenbeckia Cunninghami), and in Arnhem's 
Land occasionally also by Rice-plants, not distinct from the ancient 
culture plant. But here, in almost equinoctial latitudes, the stagnant 
fresh waters are almost invariably nourishing two Water Lilies ° f 
