14 Forage Plants of Australia. 



OEDEH GERANIACE^E. 



EBODIIJM CYGNORUM, NEES. 

 " Stork's Bill, or Crow's Foot," 



Flora Austr., Vol. 7, p. 297. 



AN annual or biennial herb with procumbent or slightly erect stems 

 extending from 1ft. to 3ft. or more in length. The leaves are deeply three 

 lobed, or divided to the base into three lobes or segments, which are more 

 or less again three lobed, the central lobe being larger and broader than the 

 lateral ones. Its flowers are blue and are usually from 2 to 5 in an umbel. 

 At figure 1 is illustrated the capsule lobe (inclosing one seed), which is 

 curled upward on a long elastic awn. This is usually twisted and bearded 

 inside with long hairs. The capsule lode is very sharply pointed at the 

 base. This plant is very widely distributed throughout the Australian 

 continent, being found in the interior of all the colonies ; and in some 

 situations it is moderately plentiful. Its free seeding qualities have rendered 

 i.t somewhat proof against extermination. During the spring and early 

 summer months this plant affords a rich succulent herbage which herbivora 

 of all descriptions are remarkably fond of. Horses will often leave good 

 herbage to browse upon it. Pastoralists speak very highly of this plant as 

 affording good herbage while it is in a young state. But when it is ripening 

 its seeds, it is somewhat dreaded by the sheepowner on account of the sharp 

 pointed seed lobes, which not only attach themselves firmly to the wool, but 

 the barbed points often penetrate the skin of the animal. Notwithstanding 

 this, however, the plant has much to recommend it as a pasture herb, for it 

 will grow well on the poorest of soils. Many of the dry sand hills of the 

 interior would have little vegetation on them during the early summer 

 months if it were not for this plant. Under cultivation, it produces a great 

 amount of herbage ; and if cut when it shows it flowers, it is not only 

 valuable as green feed, but it can be made into capital hay. Taking into 

 consideration its great productiveness, we think it might be turned into 

 ensilage with good results. E. cygnorum is the only species of the genus 

 that is endemic in Australia. But two other species (E. cicutarium, 

 L'Her,) which has the leaflets of the pinnate leaves deeply pinnatifid, and 

 an umbel of from two to twelve small purple flowers, and E. moscliatum, 

 Willd, Musky heron's bill, which has the leaflets of the pinnate leaves only 

 deeply toothed, and the flowers are smaller) of European origin have been 

 introduced and become acclimatised in the coastal districts of some of the 

 colonies. E. cicutarium may be seen growing about Sydney. About 

 eighteen months ago we saw it growing in one paddock where cows were 

 depastured, and it was eaten down very close to the ground. The seeds of 

 the plant under notice are best sown during the early autumn months, after 

 rainfall if possible ; then the seed will germinate quickly, and the plants will 

 yield a considerable amount of herbage during the winter months. 



