140 A CONTRIBUTION TO, ETC. 



marginale (formerly L. angustifolium), a plant with blue flowers, 

 which De Candolle supposed to have been imported from Europe, 

 is now considered to be indigenous. Dr. Mueller says, " The 

 Australian flax differs, as pointed out by Dr. Planchon, from the 

 European L. angustifolium, principally in highly connate styles. 

 The bast of the Australian flax is of considerable length, and well 

 adapted for textile fabrics. The aborigines convert it into nets 

 fishing lines, and other articles of great strength and neatness. 

 The seeds may be used for mucilaginous decoctions, for express- 

 ing oil, for preparing poultices, and for any other uses for which 

 common linseed is employed." 



(6.) Malvacece. Of the mallow family, there are some inter- 

 esting species amongst those introduced. Malva sylvestris, 

 commonly called marsh mallow, but very inferior to the real 

 marsh mallow (Althcea officinalis), is still used on account of its 

 demulcent properties. M. verticillata, M. rotundifolia, and M. 

 crispa have also found their \vay to the colony ; and Sida rhombi- 

 folia or 3. retusa, a small shrab, which Mr. Moore states was in- 

 troduced from the Mauritius. This is the plant which, according 

 to the experiments instituted by Mr. W. Hill, Director of the 

 Brisbane Botanical Grarden, yields an excellent fibre. It is be- 

 coming a troublesome weed in Australia, and is spreading from 

 one end of the continent to the other. With respect to the other 

 malvaceous plant Parvonia Jtastata, Mr. Bentham regards it as 

 indigenous, but Dr. !\ Mueller speaks of it "as being naturalized 

 in the Eastern warmer parts of Australia." I have had specimens 

 from the Hawkesbury, and not long since I saw a plant of it 

 growing in one of the streets at Penrith, but as it has been found 

 in many other parts of Australia, it seems probable that Pavonia 

 is really a native. This shrub is remarkable for producing two 

 kinds of flowers, a fact first pointed out by Dr. F. Mueller. To 

 these I may add Cristaria coccinea, which is spreading very much 

 in cultivated ground. 



(7.) Phytolaccacece. The only species of this family which has 

 been accidentally introduced is Phytolacca oclandra. This plant 

 appeared first in the neighbourhood of Sydney, but latterly it has 

 found its way inland, springing up in Parramatta, on the Rich- 

 mond and Windsor Roads, &c. I am aware that some persons 

 regard this species as indigenous, but this opinion is not held, I 



