555 



cultivated in gardens. It reaches a height of over four feet ; growth 



branching ; steins containing a milky juice ; leaves bright green, 

 slender, entire ; (lowers white, in umbels near tips of branches ; 

 fructification bright green, sometimes over an inch long, covered 

 with soft prickles (superficially resembling the " thorn-apple ") 

 seeds numerous, bearing a profusion of long white cottony lilal 



Xanthinm spinosnm (" Bathurst burr "). 



REFERENCE TO PLATE. A, branchlet of plant (natural size) ; B, fruit 

 (enlarged) ; C, leaf, fruit and spines ; D, one of the hooks growing on the fruit 

 (much enlarged). 



ments. The organisation of the attachment of the seed fits this for 

 wide and rapid distribution. Besides being easily carried by the 

 wind, the many fine and flexid hairs allow it to adhere to almost 

 anything, and when blown against railway carriages may be carried 

 for hundreds of miles in this manner. The seed capsules should 

 not be allowed to break, and be burnt to prevent the spread of the 

 plant. 



