PARRAMATTA DISTRICT. 7 



yellow flowers. Near these may sometimes be seen Myrsine 

 variaUUs, a shrub rightly named, " variable," for the stunted 

 variety growing near the salt water differs so much in its appear- 

 ance from that found on the banks of the freshwater creeks, that 

 at first sight one would suppose them to be distinct species. Of 

 the Asclepias family, Marsdenia suaveolens is another plant which 

 must be noticed, on account of its agreeable scent. There are 

 two others nearly allied to it, but not in any way remarkable. 

 Turning to the smaller, or herbaceous plants of this division, we 

 find some esteemed for their medicinal properties. Erythrcea 

 Australia is a pretty pink flower, and possesses all the essential 

 properties of gentian. It has been much used in rustic pharmacy, 

 and more than one medical man in this neighbourhood has pre- 

 scribed it as a tonic. Selcea ovata is a still more diminutive plant, 

 with yellow flowers, very similar in character to the last. Ver- 

 lena officinalis has had its reputation as a medicine, and it was 

 employed by the ancients in a very superstitious manner. Some 

 have thought that the poet alludes to this plant in the following 

 passage : 



Effer aquam et molli cinge hcec altaria vitta : 



Verbenasqae aclole pingues 



The Lamiacese are not very numerous, but they offer to our notice 

 two or three interesting plants, such, for instance, as Prunella 

 vulgaris, Mentha satureoides, and MarruHum vulgare, all of which 

 are used as cheap and efficacious remedies by country people. 

 Scutellaria liumilis is found here as well as in Europe, but S. 

 mollis, which occurs sparingly on the Toongabbie Creek, is some- 

 what rarer. Veronica plebeia is medicinal in its properties, and 

 is nearly allied to those species which Withering informs us have 

 been recommended as a substitute for tea. This little plant be- 

 longs to the Scropliulariacece, and with it may also be mentioned 

 Gratiola pedunculata, which has a very powerful scent, and I think 

 it should he used with caution, as it closely resembles G. officinalis, 

 which Lindley characterises as " cathartic, diuretic, emetic, and 

 poisonous." The species of the Solanacese are very limited in 

 this district, and, with the exception of Datura stramonium, which 

 has been introduced, and is a deadly poison, I have never heard 

 of any ill effects arising from them. 



(4.) The Monochlarnydeae have fifteen families in the district, 

 including the ProteaceWj and a few very useful trees, such as four 



