9 



From year to year it is rapidly taking possession of the pasture as well as 

 cultivated land, and is now found quite two hundred miles towards the north 

 from its starting point, covering even the untimbered mountain ranges to their 

 summits. When in bloom the country presents a peculiar appearance, and 

 as far as the eyes reach a yellow carpet only is seen. It is an annual, and 

 although doing much harm to the more tender indigenous herbage, it is much 

 liked by cattle and sheep, which eat it eagerly, preferring it even in a dry 

 state to wheaten hay, and licking the large and very abundant seed from the 

 ground. When in bloom many people consider it injurious to the lungs, 

 from the inhalation of the pollen by which the air is impregnated. This 

 circumstance may also be attributed to the moist atmosphere prevailing when 

 the dandelion is in flower. Though the plant has taken possession of the 

 land for the last twenty-five years, it grows as vigorously as ever, and it 

 seems that over stimulation fails to bring about degeneracy and subsequent 

 extinction. It is said that the plant was introduced from Tasmania. 



Goat's Beard. Tragopogon porifolius, Linn. A native of Britain. 

 Within the last few years this weed, introduced from England, seems to have 

 found a genial climate in South Australia, as it spreads everywhere, the pro- 

 fusely winged seeds being each carried about by the wind. Its large taproot, 

 which proves to be an edible vegetable, takes hold in any soil. The plants 

 are eaten by cattle when young. 



Chicory. Cichorium Intybus, Linn. A native of Europe, and intro- 

 duced into South Australia about sixteen years ago, and is now abundantly 

 found growing on the roadsides, especially on the Brighton Road, and along 

 the railway to Glenelg. Although spreading fast in these places it will not 

 become dangerous to our pasture lands, being a plant eaten eagerly by stock. 

 As the plant has taken so well to our climate the culture of the chicory for 

 manufacture would, no doubt, be a profitable undertaking. 



Common Groundsel. Seneoio vulgaris, Linn. Known here for 

 the last sixteen years. Becomes rather a nuisance in gardens, but improves 

 pasture, as the cattle relish it much. 



Golden Cornflower. Chrysanthemum segetum, Linn. A native 

 of Britain probably introduced from Tasmania also begins to spread much. 



Common Stinking Maruta. Maruta Cotula, Dec., (Anthemis 

 Cotula, Linn.) A native of Europe. From its unpleasant odour is not at all 

 an agreeable addition to our flora, It increases rapidly, as stock do not 

 eat it. 



Sow-thistle. Sonckus oleraceus, Linn., was introduced in the early 

 days of the colony, and has become a very troublesome weed in cultivated 



