QUEENSLAND. 131 



signata. The htt'.e plant is rigid, glabrous, and almost leafless, 

 the numerous rigid petioles bearing very small obcordate leaflets 

 in distant pairs, with very prominent dark-coloured stipellary 

 glands. In the instance before us, there is an example of the 

 great difficulty which the systematic botanist has to contend with 

 in the determination of species ; for, when between plants appa- 

 rently of distinct origin there are so many connecting links, he is 

 led to conclude that the variations may be accidental, and that, 

 therefore, it is imprudent to multiply species unnecessarily. Un- 

 til greater progress has been made in the investigation of this ab- 

 struse subject, audit has beeu ascertained by the diligent obser- 

 vation of species under cultivation, whether they are indeed liable 

 to the amount of variation which is now assumed, it seems in 

 many cases quite impossible to assign to them their proper places 

 in the respective genera. The careful student of Australian 

 botany will fully appreciate these remarks, when he is endeavour- 

 ing to fix the species of such genera as Daviesia, Dillwynia, In- 

 diyofera, &c., and he will rest satisfied with believing that much, 

 remains to be elucidated by the gradual advancement of science. 

 Amongst the specimens, there are several species of Cassia, three of 

 which appear to be C. Icevigata, G. Australis, and C. ercmopliila, 

 the others being too imperfect for determination. Mr. Beutham 

 remarks in reference to the first of these, it is " a common species 

 in tropical America, occurring also in tropical Africa, but pro- 

 bably introduced there, and perhaps not really indigenous in Aus- 

 tralia." This shrub is often called Laburnum, and is allied to a 

 Cassia from which senna is prepared. The flowers of this and 

 most of the species are of a showy yellow, the sepals and petals 

 five, stamens ten, anthers generally perfect, opening in terminal 

 pores or short slits. In the course of his excursions, Mr. Boss 

 noticed "the wax plant" (Hoy a carnosa), "the Spotted Tree" 

 (Flindersia maculosa), "the Bottle Tree" (Sterculia rupestris), 

 " the native lemon" (Atalantia glauca), three species of * caper" 

 (C. Mitchell ii* C. nuuimularia, and C. sarmentosa), and the More- 

 ton Bay " yellow wood" (Xanthoxylon brachyacanthum). The 

 Eremopkila Mitchellii, which on the Dawson is frequently called 

 " sandal wood," seems to be somewhat plentiful. This w r as first 

 observed by Sir T. Mitchell, who speaks of it as a fine tree fifteen 

 feet high, with white flowers ; but it has subsequently been found 



