554 



Gordon's report. Dr. Bancroft confirmed the poisonous nature of 

 the plant from experiments made by him. At Noogoora the first 

 case of poisoning stock was authenticated, whence it received its 

 local name. 



Xanthium spiuosinii (Bathurst burr). Indigenous to Chili, but 

 has long been widely distributed over the warmer parts of the globe. 

 An annual (probably at times biennial in Australia) assuming a bushy 

 spreading growth, and sometimes ascending to over 3 ft. Stem 

 stout, becoming woody near base ; branchlets covered with a silvery 

 bloom, armed with sharp prickles at the nodes ; leaves three*- 

 lobed, lance-shaped, the central lobe much longer than those at 

 the side, green above and silvery below ; llowers situated in the 

 axils of the leaves, where they form clusters of burrs ; burrs elliptical, 

 crowded with hooked bristles. The hard nut is too chambered, 

 containing each a long greyish olive colored seed. A pernicious 

 introduction and especially objectionable on sheep runs. By no 

 other burr is produced an equal deterioration of the wool as by that 

 of A", spinosiiin. The loss may amount to 2d. per pound, which, at 

 the price of wool ruling at present, means upwards of one-third of 

 its value. 



Planla^o lanceohita (Rib grass). Indigenous to Europe. A 

 perennial herb with a thick woody rootstock ; leaves erect, lan- 

 ceolate, sometimes over six inches long, but varying much in size, 

 stalked, longitudinally ribbed ; Mowers small, crowding at the apex 

 of long slender stalks. Abundant in meadows, pastures and waste 

 lands. The plant makes fairly good fodder. 



Plantago major (Broad-leaved plantain). Indigenous to Europe 

 and Central Asia. A perennial plant with large leaves growing from 

 a rootstock ; leaves erect or spreading, sometimes over five inches 

 long and nearly as broad, stalked, ovate, generally smooth but some- 

 times downy underneath, with a number of ribs converging towards 

 the stalks ; Mowers numerous, crowded round a stalk growing 

 from the centre of the plants, and forming a long spike. In culti- 

 vated land, waste lands and pastures. 



Alidad/Us tin't'iisis (Red pimpernel! ; shepherd's or poor man's 

 weather glass). Indigenous to Central and Southern Europe. A 

 succulent procumbent annual from six inches to one foot ; leaves 

 small, ovate, closely set to stems, entire ; Mower bright red. In 

 cultivated and waste places this seed spreads rapidly. Its feeding 

 qualities are small, and it is not readily eaten by stock. 



Anagallis cocnilnns. This weed is by most botanists considered 

 merely a variety of the former. It has very handsome dark blue 

 Mowers, and generally grows more robustly. In Western Australia 

 I have met this plant in cultivation, growing with extraordinary 

 luxuriance, and becoming very obnoxious. 



Gotnphocarpus fniticosus (Cape cotton). Indigenous to South 

 Africa. This annual is an entirely useless weed and very aggres- 

 sive. On account of its handsome appearance it is sometimes 



