Forage Plants of Australia. 



ORDER SAPINDACE^E. 



LOBULATA, F. T. M. 



" Eed-fruited Hop Bush." 



Flora Austr., Vol. 7, p. 479. 



A TA.LL growing shrub of 12 to 15 feet, viscid, but quite glabrous. The 

 leaves are variable, but mostly linear, or pinnalifid with short obtuse callous 

 lobes, thick and rigid and from 1 to 2 inches long. Flowers few in short 

 racemes on slender pedicels. At figure I is illustrated the capsule in which 

 the wings are not very broad, but are continued from the base to the style, 

 or nearly so, the terminal sinus narrow. Its seeds are smooth and shining. 

 When the fruit of this shrub is ripe it is really a handsome looking plant. 

 The bright red capsules, which it bears in profusion, and very often at a* 

 time when the surrounding vegetation is somewhat dry looking, make it an 

 object of very great interest in the landscape. This plant is peculiar to the 

 arid plains and ranges in Central Australia, and is moderately plentiful 

 in some situations between the Lachlan and Darling Rivers, and in South 

 and West Australia. Its free seeding qualities together with the easy germi- 

 nation of its seeds have rendered it somewhat proof against extermination. 

 In the Lachlan district it is considered one of the best forage shrubs. Its 

 capsules contain a very pleasant bitter of which herbivora of all kinds are 

 remarkably fond ; sheep will very often stand on their hind legs, to browse 

 upon parts of the plant which, otherwise would be out of their reach. The 

 climatic endurance of this plant is remarkable, when we come to consider 

 that it is neither affected by the torrid heat of summer nor the extreme cold 

 of winter. In the early days of settlement, the capsules were largely used as 

 a substitute for hops, hence its common name *' hop-bush." The timber of 

 this shrub, though rarely exceeding C inches in diameter, is hard, tough, 

 and close-grained, and might be used for some industrial purpose. The 

 seeds should be sown in the early autumn months after rainfall, or failing 

 this, in September or October. 



