INDIGENOUS PLANTS OF VICTORIA. 275 



discoveries have been made of later years, that we may raise the 

 estimate to seven thousand. While the Australian plants are distri- 

 buted among numerous families, each of the latter comprises but a 

 very limited number of individuals. The predominant plants belong, 

 in the main, to these families or orders : Leguminosse, Cornpositse, 

 Myrtacese, Graminese, Cyperacese, Filices, Proteacese, Epacridse, Orchi- 

 dacese, in a proportion which varies, moreover, according to the 

 various districts explored. 



The fertility of the soil, and the climatic conditions of the 

 southern shores of the Australian continent, are highly favourable to 

 the introduction of new species. Our English settlers have availed 

 themselves to the utmost of this circumstance, and have cultivated 

 on a large scale all the most useful fruit trees and vegetables of 

 Europe, and others imported from tropical climes ; so that mingled in 

 the same prolific gardens may be seen the fig-tree and the banana, 

 the guava, the orange-tree, the olive, and the apple cabbages, 

 potatoes, turnips, peas. Even the vine has been successfully natu- 

 ralized, and its manufactured products are not inferior in excellence 

 to the famous Rhenish wines. 



In indicating the most curious indigenous plants of New Holland, 

 we shall more particularly confine ourselves to those of Victoria, one 

 of the best known districts, and perhaps also one of the most exten- 

 sive, most diversified, and most picturesque. The plains are, in 

 general, sufficiently grassy and fertile, especially in those parts which 

 border on the brooks and rivers. The plants most extensively distri- 

 buted belong to the Graminese and Cyperacese ; we find, among the 

 former, the Pennisetum fasciculare, a great number of Poacese, and 

 the Arundo conspicua ; in foliage and general appearance the 

 latter presents some striking analogies with the Pampas Grass; 

 among the Poacese predominates the Cyperus vaginatus, a common 

 object on the banks of the river Murray in those parts which are 

 subject to frequent inundations. A strong tenacious netting is made 

 from the fibres of its leaves. To these herbs we have to acid some 

 flowering plants, such as the star-like Lobelias ; numerous species of 



