Forage Plants of Australia. 9 



ORDER MALVACEAE. 



MALVASTRUM SPICATUM, A. GRAY. 



" Spiked Mallow." 



Flora Austr., Vol. I, p. 187. 



Ax erect branching herb of 2 or more feet, becoming almost woody at the 

 base ; leaves ovate, or ovate-lanceolate, 1 to 2 inches long, irregularly ser- 

 rated, and scabrous or softly tomentose. Flowers yellow, but small, in 

 dense terminal spikes rarely exceeding li inches in length. This plant is 

 peculiar to the arid plains of the interior. It is found, also, in the New 

 England and in the Clarence Biver districts in New South Wales, 

 besides various stations in Queensland, South, and North Australia. There 

 are only two species of the genus found in the colonies ; and neither of 

 them are endemic. Their geographical range is an extensive one; for both 

 of them are found in the warmer parts of the old world, also in tropical 

 America. Pastoralists in the central districts of this continent speak 

 highly of this plant, as affording good fodder for both cattle and sheep. 

 It makes its growth during the warmer part of the year, so on this account 

 it affords succulent herbage when the surrounding vegetation is somewhat 

 dried up. Like many other species arranged under the natural order of 

 Malvaceae, it produces fibre, though we have not heard that it has ever been 

 put to any industrial purpose, outside what use the aboriginals make of it. 

 When left unmolested for a time the plant produces plenty of seed, which 

 germinates readily under ordinary conditions. 



At figure I is illustrated a fruit, the carpels of which are usually from 

 eight to twelve, surrounded by a five acuminate lobed persistent calyx, 

 softly pubescent, and often bordered by long hairs, 



The seeds of this plant should be sown during the early Autumn months, 

 after rainfall, if possible ; then the seedlings are not long in coming up. 



