INTBODUCED PLANTS. 143 



the neighbourhood of Sydney ; G'rysantJiemum segetum or the 

 " corn Marigold," Senecio vulgar is, or the common " Groundsel," 

 and Tragopogon porrifolius or the " Goat's Beard." With the ex- 

 ception of the first of these, however, none' appear to increase 

 much in this part of the colony. 



(2.) EuplwrUaccce.Q? this family there are three species of 

 Euphorbia of foreign origin, E. peplus, E. helioscopa and E. cJiamoe- 

 syce, the milky juice of which. is very acrid, and is regarded as a 

 useful remedy for warts. Ricinus communis, or the castor oil 

 plant, is spreading in many parts of the colony, and possesses 

 medicinal qualities too well known to require any remark. In 

 addition to the ordinary uses of this plant, I may mention that 

 the leaves of the castor oil are now sometimes employed as a gal- 

 actopoietic. I do not think, however, that they should be used in 

 this way without medical advice, if it can be procured. 



(3.) LeguminoscK. The introduced leguminous plants are not 

 so numerous as many would suppose. Two species of Vetch as 

 well as the common one (Vicia saliva), are often seen in or near 

 cultivated ground, and the scented trefoil (Melilotus parviflora) 

 is so abundant in some districts, as to do considerable injury to 

 agriculturists, by deteriorating the quality of their flour. Many 

 millers refuse to purchase wheat which is impregnated with this 

 weed, as ifc imparts a nauseous flavour to the bread. Medicago 

 nigra is of the same family, and has a bur which adheres to wool. 

 Trifolium repens, or white clover, has spread suprisingly in some 

 districts, and occasionally two other species of trefoil, and one of 

 Lotus, may be found amongst the English grasses. Cassia loevi- 

 gata a shrub nearly allied to the senna of chemists, the leaves of 

 which are also purgative now grows wild in waste places. Les- 

 pedeza juncea, which occurs sparingly in these parts, is probably 

 indigenous ; but the " furze," or Ulex Europceus was intro- 

 duced. 



(4.) Lytkracfce. The common Lythrum hyssopifolium, whfch 

 may be gathered in almost every moist place in this part of the 

 colony, is decidedly a native, and Dr. Mueller (Frag. vol. 3, p. 

 109) also regards L. salicaria, the " spiked purple loose-strife" 

 of England, as indigenous. Sir Thomas Mitchell found this 

 plant in abundance amongst the reeds of the Macquarie, and I 

 have seen specimens from Mudgee, Clarence Eiver, &c. In this 



