44 Forage Plants of Australia. 



ORDER MYOPORINEJ!. 



EREMOPHILA MACULATA, F. v. M. 



" Native Fuchsia," " Emu Bush." 



Flora Austr., Vol. V,p, 29. 



A TALL elegant shrub with rigid spreading branches, more or less hoary 

 whilst young, but quite glabrous when old. The leaves are mostly lanceo- 

 late, and about 1 inch long. The flowers are arranged singly on stalks in 

 the leaf axils, and are variable in colour, " red, more or less variegated with 

 yellow, or quite yellow." At figure 1 is illustrated the fruit, which is ovoid 

 globular in shape, above \ an inch in diameter, and very succulent on the out- 

 side, but the large stone is very hard and bony. This shrub is found 

 in the interior oi: all the Australian Colonies, except "West Australia, and 

 in some situations it is fairly plentiful. When in flower it is one of the 

 most beautiful sights on the central plains of this continent. The plant 

 from which the drawing was made I have had under cultivation 'for 

 some years, and it never fails to attract attention when in flower. It is 

 worthy of a place in every garden. Besides the lovely flowers it bears, its 

 distinctive evergreen appearance during the driest of weather is a con- 

 spicuous feature amongst the surrounding vegetation. This shrub is easily 

 raised from seed, and is of quick growth. The plant at 2 years old was 3 

 feet 6 inches high and 2 feet through. This shrub, with some of its con- 

 geners, has been suspected by some persons of poisoning sheep, but my cor- 

 respondents affirm differently ; and, besides my own observations over a 

 number of years, have led me to believe that it makes capital forage for 

 both cattle and sheep in times of scarcity of other herbage, and they may 

 be seen browsing upon it at all seasons. Mr. Bauerlin, when collecting 

 plants in the interior for the Technological Museum, Sydney, told me that 

 sheep will trim this shrub so neatly, by eating off the smaller branches, that 

 they appear to have been clipped into shape with a pair of garden shears. 

 The fruits of this shrub and many of its allies are eaten by emus, consequently 

 it goes under the name, in some districts, of " emu bush." The seeds of this 

 shrub should be sown singly in pots, and when the plants are 3 or 4 inches 

 high they should be transplanted to their permanent quarters. The seeds 

 may also be sown where it is intended the plants are to grow, as they are very 

 impatient of removal, and often die after the operation. 



