Forage Plants of Australia. 41 



OEDER MYOPORINEJE. 



EREMOPHILA OPPOSITIFOLIA, R. BB. 

 44 Emu Bush." 



Flora Austr., Vol. V, p. 20. 



Ax ornamental shrub or small tree, sometimes attaining a height of 20 feet, 

 and more or less hoary. The leaves are not, as one would suppose from 

 its specific name, always opposite to each other, but are usually alternate or 

 scattered, and from 1 inch to 2 inches or more in length. The flowers are 

 arranged solitary in the leaf axils, and are about 1 inch long. At figure 1 is 

 illustrated an enlarged drawing of the fruit with its adherent calyx, the seg- 

 ments of which are oblong-spathulate, and about f of an inch long. This tree 

 is found principally on the plains between the Lachlan and Darling Rivers, in 

 Xi-w South Wales ; near the Murray River, in Victoria ; and in the interior 

 of South Australia. But it is not reported to be plentiful anywhere, 

 for it has been much cut down of late years, during drought time, to feed 

 stock, and nothing, so far, has been done either in the way of the conservation 

 or cultivation of this tree. Both cattle and sheep are fond of browsing 

 upon the foliage of the tree, and the fact of its being available during the 

 most protracted drought makes it doubly valuable to the pastoralist. Any 

 shrub or tree that is available for forage, and will grow as this one does, in 

 the most arid parts of the continent, and often when not a blade of grass is 

 seen for weeks together, is well worthy of extensive conservation and even 

 cultivation. This will have to be resorted to sooner or later, if our central 

 plains are to carry any quantity or stock during such dry periods as are 

 often experienced in Australia. When left unmolested for a time, this tree 

 will produce a fair amount of seed, which will, when ripe, germinate readily 

 under ordinary conditions. Emus eat the fruits of this plant, hence it is 

 called " emu bush" ; but there are many trees that bear this appellation by 

 stockmen on account of their fruits being eaten by these birds. This tree 

 produces a close-grained timber, but it is not of large dimensions, and, s^ far 

 as I have heard, it has not been put to any economic use. There are about 

 thirty-three species of the genus Eremophila found on this continent, and 

 they are all endemic. Most of the species, when in flower, are really beau- 

 tiful objects, and are even much admired by persons who take little interest 

 in plants. Several of the species are cultivated in European conservatories, 

 where they are held in great esteem both by botanists and horticulturists. 

 When we find these beautiful flowering shrubs so much admired in Europe, 

 they should certainly find a prominent place in Australian gardens. We 

 are sure that many of them only require to be known by nurserymen 

 and gardeners, in order to be extensively cultivated. They are easily 

 raised from seed, and the plants will grow in almost any kind of garden soil, 

 provided that it is well drained. The roots of some of the species are very 

 impatient of moisture, and they do not like being disturbed. We have found 

 the best way to raise the seed is singly in pots, and when the seedlings are 

 large enough to handle, to transplant them to their permanent quarters ; 

 or, if it is intended to grow the shrubs on a large scale, the seeds should be 

 sown where it is intended to grow them permanently, as the plants are veiy 

 impatient of being removed. 



