578 



YORK ROAD Poisox. 



Gaslrolobiiun calycinum. An erect shrub, nearly allied to G. 

 oxylobioides, but quite destitute of hairs ; leaves opposite or in 

 threes, oblong-elliptical or, more frequently, lancet-shaped, with a 

 pungent point, one to two inches long, rigid, net-veined, and often 

 glaucous ; flower racemes tipping the branches or in the angles 

 formed by the upper leaves with the branch ; flowers few and large 

 in distant pairs or threes ; calyx rive to nearly six lines long, the 

 points or lobes rather linger than the lower part, the two upper 

 ones broad, rounded at the end and united above the middle ; 

 upper petal about three-quarters of an inch in diameter ; lowermost 

 deeply colored, rather shorter than the side ones ; pod on a very 

 short stalk. 



The well-known " York-road " occurs as a small shrub, varying 

 in height from one to three or four feet, growing, according to the 

 reports received, in any soil, from barren sand to rich, but evidently 

 quite at home in soils of the poorest quality. Its period of flowering 

 is from September to December. According to Mr. E. R. Parker, 

 " this plant is very general over all the south-western division of 

 the colony, and took its name from the fact that it destroyed sheep, 

 cattle and goats at different places on the York Road, all the way 

 from Guildford to York, from 1834 to 1884." It prevails much 

 more, he says, in some other parts than in the eastern districts. 



All kinds of stock are subjects to its poisonous effects cattle, 

 sheep, goats, and also horses and it is dangerous at all times, but 

 especially so while young and tender, flow r ering or seeding. It is 

 often noted as particularly deadly after bush rires, when the suc- 

 culent young shoots or seedlings spring up and offer a tempting 

 morsel to stock. At a later stage, the flowers are probably as 

 attractive ; and the seeds, later still, are likely to furnish the poison 

 in a more concentrated and deadly form, while, at the same time, 

 the leaves have become harsher and drier and less palatable. 

 According to one report, the old plant will not poison in Februai 

 or March. 



Some believe there are two varieties of York Road poison, but 

 others think there is only one. It is not unlikely that some other 

 plant may occasionally be mistaken for the true Gastrolobium 

 cinum, or that variations in growth, according to soil, season, or 

 other surroundings, may so alter it as to give it the appearance of 

 distinct species. In such a case, specimens forwarded to th< 

 Bureau of Agriculture may settle the point. 



DESERT POISON. 

 Gastrolobinm gntmlijlonnn. Young branches and flowers softly 

 silky, the full-grown foliage almost without hairs and glaucous ; 

 leaves opposite, or the upper ones scattered, from oval to oblong, 

 blunt or notched at the tip, i to 3 inches long, flat, leathery ; 

 racemes short, loose, in angles of leaves, and terminating the 



