42 Forage Plants of Australia. 



OKDEB- MYOPOEINE^E. 



EREMOPHILA LONaiFOLIA, F. v. M. 



"Berrigan." 

 H)ra Austr., Vol. V, p. 23. 



A TALL, erect shrub, of a slightly hoary appearance, growing from 10 to 20 

 feet high. Its leaves are scattered on the stems, and are rather thick, 

 linear-lanceolate, and from 2 to 5 inches long, and tapering into recurred 

 points. The pedicles are solitary or two together in the axils of the upper 

 leaves. Flowers f to 1 inch long, and velvety on the outside. The four 

 exserted stamens are in pairs two of them longer than the two others. 

 The genus Eremophila (from ermos, a desert, and pkilo, to love), is named 

 most appropriately, as the species are found principally on the arid plains in 

 Central Australia. This shrub is peculiar to the Murray, Lachlan, and 

 Darling Eivers, the Liverpool Plains, and the Barrier Ranges, in New South 

 "Wales ; the Suttor River, in Queensland ; the Murray and Avoca Rivers, also 

 the Wimmera district, in Victoria ; Spencer's Grulf, in South Australia ; and 

 8 wan River, in \Vest Australia. In some districts it is moderately plenti- 

 ful ; while in others it is becoming scarce, through being so much cut down 

 during droughts for forage, which both cattle and sheep eat greedily. In 

 fact, in some districts it is one of the chief stand-by's for stock when other 

 herbage and grasses fail. It has been reported from some stations that in 

 times of scarcity of feed rabbits will eat the bark of this shrub in preference 

 to the bark of any other tree or shrub. Its drought-enduring qualities are 

 remarkable, for it grows in the most adverse circumstances of drought 

 and great heat. The peculiar glaucous green colour of this shrub makes it 

 a feature in the landscape when some other kinds of vegetation are languish- 

 ing for want of rain. The timber of this shrub is brittle, and, in consequence, 

 is not used for any industrial purpose. It never attains very large propor- 

 tions, however, the diameter rarely, if ever, exceeding 8 inches. The fruit is 

 eaten by emus, and on this account it is often called " emu-bush " ; but 

 under this appellation many berry and drupe-bearing trees and shrubs are 

 known. When left unmolested this plant bears moderately plentiful seed, 

 which germinates readily under ordinary conditions. At Figure 1 is illus- 

 trated the fruit, which is ovoid or globular, and very succulent, with a hard, 

 bony stone like that of a cherry ; but it is completely four-celled. The 

 seeds of this shrub should be sown where it is intended they are to grow 

 permanently cs the young plants do not like transplanting. 



