96 



really belongs to the Mint family, that is the Labiates. 

 This can always be identified by the fruit consisting of 

 four one-seeded nuts. 



Of the common plants we may here refer to Heart 

 Berry, though so different in form, is closely related to 

 the English Lime-tree or Linden. Native Olive, for a won- 

 der, is correctly named, for it is a member of the Olive 

 family. The berries are numerous, and semi-transparent, 

 and all colours from white through pink to nearly black. 

 The wood is very dense, and is often known as Ironwood. 



The Toughbarks, including Cotton Bush, are of interest 

 in that the flowers are white and petal -like, but as there 

 is only one series in the perianth it is a calyx, not a 

 corolla, though it looks very like one. 



Ant's Delight is a small heath lying flat on the ground ; 

 the flowers are numerous, brownish-green, and open 

 beneath so as to be close to the soil. Ants frequent it, 

 and no doubt are the means of fertilising. 



There is little beauty in the flowers of Sedges, Grasses, 

 and their allies. The former contains very many forms 

 in Tasmania, but they are not particularly attractive, and 

 too harsh to be useful; at the same time they are most 

 interesting to the student who cares to study them. It is 

 very different with grasses. This is the most useful family 

 of plants upcn the earth. Not only does grass afford the 

 greater part of food for our domestic animals, but their 

 seeds constitute the principal sustenance of man. Wheat, 

 Rice, Maize, Oats, Barley, Millet, together keep the human 

 race alive. If we cannot go into raptures in contemplating 

 the beauty of grass flowers, we can at least feel respect for 

 this excellent group for the good they do to humanity. 

 It would be a poor world indeed were this family absent. 



