INDIGENOUS VEGETABLES. 27 



and, therefore, one cannot but regret that they are not more 

 abundant in Australia. I do not recollect that Sir Thomas Mit- 

 chell used any plant of this family in any of his expeditions ; 

 and Dr. F. Mueller seems to have noticed only three in North- 

 Eastern Australia, whilst in his recent work on the Victorian 

 plants he remarks " Cruciferce, with the exception of Cardamine 

 hirsuta,wr& totally wanting in the whole botauically-known portions 

 of tropical Australia, even in the Northern desert interior, not- 

 withstanding their slightly augmented number in the Southern 

 desert ; otherwise they are also comparatively scarce, as well in 

 extratropical Australia as in Tasmania and New Zealand, even in 

 alpine situations." The cruciferous plants of New South Wales 

 which appear to have been introduced are Sisymbrium officinale, 

 a Sinapis, a Raphanus, Capsella or the shepherd's purse, and 

 SeneUera didyma a species of swine or wart cress which is some- 

 times eaten. Those which are indigenoas are two species of 

 Lepidium, and two of Cardamine, viz., C. stylosa and C. tenuifolia, 

 the latter of which resembles the garden cress in flavour, but it 

 is far too rare to be of any utility. 0. stylosa is a much larger 

 plant, and grows in wild places about the North Eocks. The 

 water-cresses Cardamine liirsuta and Nasturtium terrestre do not 

 occur in the immediate neighbourhood of Parramatta. 



The subject at which I have glanced is one of great practical 

 utility, for it concerns not only the systematic botanist, who is 

 seeking everywhere for novelties to which he may give " a local 

 habitation and a name," but it is of infinite importance to every 

 one who may be engaged in traversing the wilds of Australia ; for 

 a competent knowledge of indigenous plants suitable for food, 

 may not merely prevent the appearance of scurvy, but in some 

 instances it may preserve life itself. This is a country which 

 certainly does not abound in esculent fruits and vegetables, and 

 there may be tracts where nothing better than the miserable 

 nardoo (Marsilea) which for a time supported the unfortunate 

 Burke and Wills, can be procured; but nevertheless there are 

 persons who reside in the midst of plants which might be substi- 

 tuted for garden vegetables, and yet for the want of a little in- 

 formation, they never turn them to any practical account. 



