CHAPTER II. 



WEST AUSTRALIAN SALT-BUSHES. 



BY FRED. TURNER, F.L.S., F.R.H.S., ETC. 



Amongst the native forage plants of Australia (non grasses) the 

 most numerous and valuable belong to the natural order Chenopo- 

 diacece (Saholacecv] numbering as they do for all Australia about one 

 hundred and twelve species, arranged under fifteen genera, eight 

 of which are endemic. Some are found on the littoral sands, whilst 

 others extend to the arid plains .of the interior and are remarkable 

 for their drought-enduring properties. Of this total sixty-three 

 species, arranged under fourteen genera, are found in Western 

 Australia. Amongst the best are fifteen species of A trip/ex, some 

 of which attain the dimensions of good-sized shrubs, whilst others 

 are dwarf, herbaceous perennials. They are fairly well distributed 

 over the colony, grow on a great variety of soils, will live through 

 the driest season, and most of them are good forage plants. 

 Nine species of Rhngodici have been recorded from different 

 parts of the colony, most of these growing into good-sized 

 shrubs, but a few being of prostrate habit. They with- 

 stand a phenomenal amount of dry weather and have a 

 good reputation as forage for stock. The next large genus is that 

 of Kochia, which includes ten species, all of which are remarkable 

 for their drought enduring properties, but on the whole are not 

 considered such valuable forage plants as the species arranged under 

 the two preceding genera. Many of the remaining species are good 

 forage plants whilst young, though exception might sometimes be 

 taken to certain of the following. During protracted droughts 

 balls of cotton-like substance form on Kocnia r/7/o.sw, Lindl., 

 Ein-hvhi'ini (oniciitosd, R. Hr., and a few other species of the order. 

 It is gem-rally supposed that this adventitious growth is caused by 

 some insect. Speaking generally, however, only one bush in a 

 thousand is subject to this cottony " gall," except during very pro- 

 tracted droughts, when the " galls " are more plentiful. The fulvous 

 tMincntnm on some species of Sclerolii'iiti, and the woolly covering 

 of the fruits of some species of Chcnolcn, have been known to kill 

 sheep when they have partaken too freely of this indigestible 

 stuff along with other pails of the plants. Only two or three 

 species of Anisticniilliii are found in Western Australia, and these 

 have not nearly such long spines on their fruits as those that are 





