THE VICTORIAN NATUKALIST. 105 



(Wind.), they are purged by it, and their flesh acquires a bad 

 taste. Some of the smaller euphorbias are called '• Wartworts," 

 from their supposed use in destroying warLs. Myriogyne mifiuta 

 (Less.) in decoction has been found useful in cases of ophthalmia. 

 or blight, but careful observation is required to ascertain the 

 proper proportion in which it should be used, and also the best 

 method of application. If the decoction is too strong it occasions 

 much pain, and therefore care is necessary in the preparation of 

 it. It is said that the poisonous tubers of Colocsia macrorrhiza 

 (Schott) may be eaten with impunity after due preparation, and 

 it is known that its acrid, milky juice gives instant relief from the 

 pain caused by nettle trees (Bailey), Dubotsia myoporoides (R. 

 Br.), a tree nearly allied to the now celebrated '• pitury," D. 

 Hopwoodii (F. V. M.) has also stimulating powers. The late 

 Miss Atkinson called my attention to this fact many years ago 

 (see Cont. to Flora Aust. 1867, P- 206), and assured me that she 

 had acquired her information from the blacks. As large quanti- 

 ties ot the leaves of this tree have been transmitted to Europe 

 for experiment, we may hope to hear more of its properties. 

 Without pursuing this subject any further, I would express a 

 hope that the remedies discovered by accident may be tested by 

 persons duly qualified for such inquiries, and that the names of 

 plants really sanatory may be added to the '' Pharmacopoeia." In 

 remote places, where the ordinary medicines cannot be obtained, 

 some of these simple remedies are very valuable ; but, of course, 

 much depends on the way in which they are prepared, and the 

 proportions in which they are taken. Such information, given in 

 terms suited to the capacities of people generally, is much needed, 

 for it appears to be from the want of proper directions that the 

 same plants differ so materially in their operation. In the 

 species mentioned, those of foreign origin (such as Datura 

 ftramo7iiuin, Ricitms communis, Anai^allis arvensis, Malva rotundi- 

 folia, Phytolacca octandra, Anethum fceniculum, Aiitheniis ?iobilis, 

 Cichorium intybiis, laraxacuin de/is-ieotiis, Marrubintn vulgare, etc.) 

 are not included, as most of them have been tested in other 

 countries, and their uses are pretty well known. 



A RARE minute aquatic plant, VVolffia Micheli (Schleiden), has 

 been found near Melbourne by Master G French for the first 

 time in the southern part of the colony, its only Victorian habitat 

 previously known being lagoons near Mount Elephant. It grows 

 also here, as in Europe, amongst Lemna vunor, but is a still 

 smaller plant, without any root, but bulges downward, and its 

 anthers are only one-celled. Baron von Mueller, who examined 

 and determined it, attaches great importance to this find. 



