Forage Plants of Australia. 3 



OEDEE CRUCIFEE^E. 



BLEXNODIA XASTTIETIOIDES, BENTH. 

 " Pinnate-leaved Mustard Bush." 



Flora Austr., Vol. J, p. 74. 



A GLABHors annual, usually growing about 1ft. high. The leaves are from 

 lin. to 2in. in length, and are pinnately divided into a few linear rather thick 

 segments. Flowers yellow, small, and slightly fragrant. Fruiting racemes 

 loose, Sin. to Gin. long. The pods are narrow and nearly straight; each one 

 being about ^in. long, and arranged on a slender stalk, as shown in the 

 engraving. The seeds small and ovate. This plant is peculiar to the inun- 

 dated lands near the Lachlan Eiver, also on the western plains of New South 

 AVales, near the Murray Eiver in Victoria, and in the interior of South 

 Australia, and in some situations it is fairly plentiful. When the plant is 

 left undisturbed for a time, it will produce seed in abundance, and after rain- 

 fall in the spring months they germinate readily. The young seedlings grow 

 quickly into plants, which have a slight pungent flavor, and are capital forage 

 for stock. Sheep are particularly fond of browsing upon this plant, pro- 

 bably on account of its pungency. Dairy cows, however, should not be 

 allowed to graze where this plant grows plentifully, or it will taint the milk 

 and butter. 



