THE EIYEE DARLING. 201 



cemula, Dantlwnia pectinata, Lappago racemosa, Hordeum inurinum, 

 and Alopecurus geniculatus, many of which are more interesting 

 to the systematic botanist than to the grazier. 



An Agrostis, referred by Steudel to Vilfa Mitchellu, is reported 

 to grow best during the months of December, January, and Feb- 

 ruary, thriving most on the South east and East sides of the 

 lakes, and growing very thinly on the West and North portion 

 and centre. This grass makes good hay, which can bo preserved 

 for any length of time. It seems to be the grass called by Sir 

 Thomas Agrostis virginica, (Vilfa matrella St.), which ne saw 

 growing in the dry bed of the Waljeers, (vol. 2, p. 65). Brown's 

 A. virginica is frequently found near salt water, and sometimes 

 whore the tide comes over it. 



My friend Mr. Suttor collected for me on the Darling some" 

 specimens of Fusanus acuminatus, (or "the Quandang"), of Gap- 

 paris MitcheUii (or "the Native Pomegranate or Lemon"), of 

 Flindersia maculosa (or "the Spotted Tree"), and Atalanta Jiemi- 

 f/lauca, a tree having dense panicles of small flowers, and a 

 peculiar seed vessel, separating into three distinct carpels, each 

 containing a seed, and terminating in a long wing. On the Flin- 

 dersia, there was a remarkable Loranthus or mistletoe, apparently 

 allied to L. pendula. He also kindly forwarded to me the fruit 

 of an asclepiadaceous climber, probably Leichhardtia, which, 

 when in a green state, is said to be eaten by the blacks. For the 

 species of Eucalyptus of the smaller kind, I am indebted to Dr. 

 F. Mueller's Fragmenta, vol. 2. Thes'e are E. gracilis, IE. oleosa, 

 E. fi'uticetorum, and IE. dumosa, all of which are of a shrubby 

 character, and form a great part of what is called " The Mallee 

 Scrub." With respect to one species of a larger growth, which 

 was much admired on some parts of the river near Wentworth, I 

 have no means of ascertaining what it is, but, from the description 

 given, I think it must be E. rostrata or the yarrah, which grows 

 near rivers and attains considerable size. I cannot end this com- 

 munication without expressing the high sense which I entertain 

 of Mrs. Forde's perseverance in collecting specimens, and also 

 of the ability which she has displayed in drawing and colouring 

 some of the most striking flowers on the Darling ; such, for in- 

 stance, as G-ossypium Sturtii, or " Sturt's Desert Rose," Eremo- 

 pliila or the " Desert Fuchsia," Heliotropium or the " Native 



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