Forage Plants of Australia. 37 



ORDER UMBELLIFER.E. 



DAIJCUS BRACHIATUS, SIEB. 

 "Native Carrot." 



Flora Austr., Vol. Ill, p. 376. 



AN annual plant with erect or decumbent, slender or stout herbaceous 

 stems, more or less sprinkled with short stiff hairs. When the plant is in a 

 vigorous state it often attains a height of 2 to 3 feet. Its leaves are 

 arranged on slender stalks, and are twice pinnate, with short narrow incised 

 or pinnate segments. The umbels are composed of from three to five 

 unequal rays. The flowers are small. Its fruits are ovoid and vary in size, but 

 scarcely ever exceed i of an inch in length, and are covered with fine bristles 

 as shown in the engraving. In this state they are called " carrot burrs " by 

 stockmen. These *' burrs" adhere to the fleece with great tenacity, render- 

 ing it troublesome to get them out of the wool. While young this plant is 

 exceedingly good forage, which stock of all descriptions are remarkably fond 

 of ; sheep particularly so, and they thrive well on it. Milch cows, however, 

 should not be allowed to eat it, as it would impart an unpleasant flavour 

 both to milk and butter. This plant is distributed generally over the 

 interior of Australia, and in some places it is moderately plentiful, especially 

 011 the rich soils and sand hills of our central plains. In the latter place it- 

 is a valuable addition to other herbage during November and December, for 

 at this season it is at its best as a forage plant. Generally speaking the 

 native grasses are wiry when growing on these sand-hills, being composed 

 principally of the genera Aristida and Stipa, consequently the " native 

 carrot " and other succulent herbs are most valuable to the stockowner in 

 such situations. Under cultivation the "native carrot" produces a great 

 amount of herbage, which might be turned into ensilage to advantage. 

 Though this plant is botanically allied to the carrot (Daucus carota) of 

 Great Britain, we have never observed any perceptible increase of its root 

 under cultivation which has characterised its northern congener as a table 

 esculent, nor is it likely it ever will become so valuable, even under con- 

 tinuous cultivation, for the reason that our native carrot is only an annual, 

 while its northern congener is biennial ; though in a wild state it presents 

 no better material to the theoretical mind than does our native one to work 

 upon. The natural order Umbelliferce is not a very numerous one in 

 Australia. According to Baron Mueller, one hundred and seven species 

 only have been recorded. A few of them are shrubby, but the majority are 

 herbaceous plants. The roots of several species of the genus Tracliymene 

 are edible, but in other genera again they are considered poisonous. There 

 is, however, much diversity of opinion as regards their true qualities, which 

 only a series of experiments and close observation could clear up to the 

 satisfaction of every one. There are several introduced European plants of 

 this order that have become acclimatised in the coastal districts of the eastern 

 colonies. The seeds of the native carrot should be sown broadcast, as soon 

 after the early autumn rains as possible. 



