175 



swallowing the juice of the green leaves of a certain plant 

 occasionally occurring in patches near his residence. Jfe had 

 advised some of his men to try the same remedy and fcney had 

 experienced the same salutary result. Pointing the plant out 

 to me, I found it to be Melaleuca uncinala, \i. Br. ft is a 

 shrub with a woody stem one to two inches in diameter and 

 from three to eight feet in height. The branches grow straight, 

 upright, and are rather slender ; the leaves cylindrical, about 

 one inch long, and pointed ; the flowers occur in small brush- 

 like groups around the young twigs, and are whitish ; 

 the fruits form closely packed, short cylinders, around 

 the branches ; the popular name applied here to this 

 shrub is " broom," and it is quite characteristic of granitic- 

 soil. Having made a mental note of the information 

 I resolved to try it myself should occasion arise. The latter 

 days of last week I was much troubled with a violent catarrh, 

 stiff neck, cough, and a difficulty in swallowing. Obtaining a 

 small sprig, I chewed a few leaves (two or three) at irregular 

 intervals. In two days the latter symptoms had altogether 

 disappeared and the catarrh so much abated that it no longer 

 incommoded me. No other remedies were used. In case some 

 of the learned members of the Society would feel inclined to 

 examine the plant chemically in order to determine its probable 

 medicinal character, some specimens accompany this note. 

 The taste shows the existence of a not disagreeable aromatic 

 oil. 



J. Gr. Otto Teppek, Corr. Mem. 

 Ardrossan, 26th March, 1880. 



Appendix to the List op Plants about Aedeossan, 

 By Me. Otto Teppee, P.L.S., Corr. Mem. 

 The species have all been determined by Baron P. von 

 Mueller. 



CETJCIPEEJG. 



Alyssum minimum, Pallas. T. 



Cardamine laciniata, F. M. C. 



Geococcus pusillus, Drummond and Harvey. C. 



POLYGA.LE.E. 



Comesperma calymega, Labillarcliere. (?) C. 



CAEYOPHTLL^. 



Drymaria filiformis, JBentham. T. 



POETTJLACE^:. 



Claytonia pusilla, F. M. Muloowurtie, C. 

 Claytonia pygmsea* F. M. Muloowurtie, P. 



