163 



Fig. 14. Another Univalve, a different species to the last. 



Fig. 15. Internal casts of a Bivalve (?) undetermined. 



Fig. 16. Orthis sp., resembling Orthis hiforata. Schlotheim. 



N.B.— The originals of Figs. 13, 14, and 15 are from the 

 Caroline Creek beds ; the remainder are from the Table Cape 

 conglomerate. 



ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE AQUATIC PLANT 

 TYPHA LATIFOLIA. 



By James Barnard. 

 [Bead 17th July, 1882.] 



Actuated bj a philanthropic spirit, Signor C. A. de Goyzueta, 

 Italian Consul at Melbourne, rcGently addressed a communi- 

 cation to the Government of Tasmania in reference to this 

 aquatic plant, and dwelling upon certain valuable properties 

 which it possesses. The following is an extract from that 

 communication : — 



'' The commander of the royal transport Europa when in this 

 port (Melbourne) offered the Victorian Humane Society of 

 Melbourne a sample of the buoyant mattresses used on board 

 the Italian vessels for their efficiency as a life-saving apparatus 

 in maritime disasters. 



" The same society tested that mattress, and found that it 

 can easily support two persons on the water ; so that, deeply 

 convinced of their utility, they came to the decision to promote 

 the introduction into the colony of the plant those mattresses 

 are stuffed with. 



" By direction of His Excellency the Minister of Marine, I 

 communicated to the said society, in answer to a relative 

 question, that this plant, known in botany by the name of 

 Typha latifolia, is an aquatic one, spontaneously growing in 

 marshes and other stagnant waters in the southern as well as 

 in the northern provinces of Italy ; wherefore there is ground 

 to believe that it might be introduced under every chmate. 

 It is very far lighter than water, hygienic, and lasts not less 

 than any other vegetable used in stuffing mattresses. 



" I thought it my duty, for humanitary interests, to bring 

 the above under notice, in the opinion that many lives would 

 be spared were the Typha latifolia generally employed in 

 preference to other vegetable or animal substances for the 

 mattresses used at sea." 



Duly estimating the importance of bringing under pubHc 

 notice a plant of this useful character, the hon. Colonial 



