739 



pi'obably the largest and most severe nettles in the world ; our author 

 found the sting as painful as that of a wasp : the leaves are heart- 

 shaped, and some of them six inches across : the stinging hairs are 

 not the most numerous, and are readily distinguishable when held to 

 the light bj^ the vesicule of poison at their base. On the ascent of 

 the Cambevvarra mountains, Dendrobium ruscifolium was observed 

 in flower on the trees, and two smaller epiphytes on mossy logs 

 nearer the top of the mountain. 



In the neighbourhood of Goulburn are certain plants allied to 

 those of England — such, for instance, as some species of Potamoge- 

 ton and Villarsia — while others — as Typha latifolia and Myriophyllum 

 verticillatum — are thought to be actually identical. At Arthurslee, 

 white clover, trefoil, a spinous-seeded medic, rib-grass, rye-grass, 

 shepherd's purse, Erodium cicutarum and moschatum, and some other 

 English jjlants, had established themselves, as is the case in many 

 other parts of the colony ; they spread and thrive often more vigo- 

 rously than in their native soil. This fact leads us to the often mooted 

 question of interchanging the productions of distant climes. Where- 

 fore should not we gladly receive the beautiful products of otlier re- 

 gions, and adopt them as our own .? More than a hundred of our 

 British plants are perfectly naturalized in Australia, and we may 

 fairly anticipate the day when Australia shall contribute her quota 

 towards the Flora of Great Britain. The mode of introduction mat- 

 ters but little : at first it may be intentionally introduced into gardens 

 with care and pains-taking, but in a few generations the plant may 

 escape its destined boundary, the seeds may be conveyed by birds or 

 scattered by the wind, and the produce may become so established 

 that our endeavours to eradicate it would prove wholly fruitless. 



After a voyage to Hobart Town, our traveller visited Port Adelaide, 

 on the 30th of November, 1837 ; and we have the following sketches 

 of its botanical productions. 



"We walked about seven miles to Port Adelaide. The way was over two level plains, 

 separated Tjy a slight, sandy rise, covered with wood. The soil of the plains was a 

 reddish loam, having a slight admixture of sand and calcareous matter. They were 

 covered with tufted grass and small herhs. Among the latter was a species of Eryn- 

 gium, a foot high, the leaves of which are eaten with avidity by cattle, and some small 

 yellow-flowered everlastings. Near Port Adelaide, the land becomes saline, and pro- 

 duces crimson Mesembryanthemums, of three species, along with numerous maritime 

 shrubs. On a sand-bank separating the plain from the salt marsh, which bo/ders the 

 creek or inlet that forms the harbour, there are trees of a species of Callitris, resem- 

 bling cypress. These are here called pines, and have trunks about 40 feet higli, 

 which are used for piles. Casuarina quadrivalvis and Banksia australis likewise grow 



