ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS, ETC. 203 



the flower that struggles for existence in the parched desert, all 

 of them when subjected to careful examination by the practised 

 eye, or brought to light by the powerful aid of the microscope, 

 display their brilliancy and call forth our admiration. But, in the 

 popular meaning of the word " ornamental," reference is gener- 

 ally made to plants of a larger and more showy character, such 

 indeed as are calculated to adorn the borders of the garden, or 

 the vase in the green-house. It is these, therefore, that I pro- 

 pose to enumerate on the present occasion, with a view of showing 

 that the Parramatta district is not destitute of plants worthy of 

 cultivation, and that neglected as they may be in the immediate 

 neighbourhood, the elegance of some species is duly appreciated 

 by horticulturists in other countries. Passing over the smaller 

 plants to which I have alluded, I shall consider our ornamental 

 species under three heads: (1) such as may be denominated 

 small trees and designed to be useful in shrubberies, or graceful 

 when flourishing near the water ; (2) shrubs, properly so called, 

 not merely smaller than the preceding, but with numerous 

 branches from the base ; and (3) herbaceous plants, wln'ch are, 

 for the most part, annuals, and are propagated from bulbs or 

 seeds. 



1. The myrtle family furnishes two small trees which abound 

 on our creeks, and are frequently termed " Australian Myrtles." 

 The one (BlacTcliousia inyrtifolia, so named in honour of the 

 worthy Quaker who visited our shores some years ago) in favoured 

 places, becomes an elegant tree, and in the spring of the year is 

 covered with a profusion of white flowers : the other (Eugenia 

 SmitUi) has larger and more glossy leaves, and is more remark- 

 able for the pretty appearance of its fruit, than for the beauty of 

 its flowers. These fruits which are called " Lilly Pillies," vary 

 sometimes in size and colour, being white and light purple, and 

 when hanging in graceful bunches amongst the dark green foliage, 

 cannot fail to arrest the attention of the observer. A figure of 

 this species may be found amongst Dr. F. Mueller's Lithograms, 

 under the name of Syzygium hracliynemum, but it does not convey 

 to the mind an adequate idea of the tree, as seen growing in its 

 native soil. The " Olive Fruit Tree" (Elaocarpus cyaneus) of the 

 Linden bloom family, is a tree which in some parts of Australia, 

 attains considerable size, but in the Parramatta district it is only 



