8 Forage Plants of Australia. 



ORDER MALVACEAE. 



LAVATEEA PLEBEIA, SIMS. 



" Australian Marsh-Mallow." 



Flora Austr., Vol. /, p. 185. 



A COAESE, erect annual, becoming woody at the base, attaining a height 

 of from 6 to 8 feet, and more or less softly tomentose. Its leaves are 

 arranged on long stalks, and are mostly five or seven-lobed, the lower ones 

 often 6 inches in diameter, but the upper ones are much smaller. The 

 pedicels are axillary, and usually clustered. The flowers are from 2 to 3 

 inches across, and usually of a white or pale rose colour. At figure A is 

 represented the fruit, which is composed of from six to fifteen carpels, 

 arranged in a close ring. This plant has a wide geographical range, being 

 found in all the colonies, but principally in the interior, and generally on 

 land liable to inundation, though it is not plentiful anywhere. When it is 

 growing on good soils it is astonishing the amount of growth it will make 

 during the hottest weather, and in a few months. Cattle and sheep are 

 particularly fond of this plant in a young state, for at this stage of growth 

 both its leaves and stems are very succulent, and abound in mucilage. The 

 roots of this plant, too, which are somewhat after the consistency of 

 parsnips, were once used by the aborigines as an article of food. Like most 

 of its congeners, a fibre can be prepared from the inner bark ; but, if grown 

 for the latter, the plant should be pulled or cut when it shows its flowers, 

 as, at this time, the fibre is at its best. 



When left unmolested for a time, this plant will produce a great abun- 

 dance of seed, which should, if brought under cultivation, be sown in 

 September, where it is intended that the plants should be grown, as the 

 seedlings are very impatient of transplanting. Half-a-dozen plants would 

 produce enough seed to sow an acre, so that very little outlay would be 

 required to enter upon a system of conservation or cultivation of the plant, 

 either for its fibre or for the forage it would supply during a dry season. 



