BY J. H. MAIDEN. 487 



Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland for 

 A, australis ; the two latter colonies for A. excelsa. 



12. Amarantus vieidis, Linn., (Syn. Euxolus viridis, Moq.) 



N.O. Amarantacese, B.Fl., v., 215. Bentham considers 

 this may be introduced, and Mueller (Cens.) omits it. 



This weed is a perfect nuisance in gardens and roadsides, but 

 Mr. F. M. Bailey points out that besides being a fair substitute 

 for cabbage, the leaves have been used externally with advantage 

 as an emollient poultice. I have had this plant cooked, and I do 

 not hesitate to pronounce it a valuable vegetable. It is an 

 excellent substitute for spinach, being far superior to much of the 

 leaves of the white beet sold for spinach in Sydney. Next to 

 spinach it is most like boiled nettle-leaves, which when young are 

 used in England, aud are excellent. This Amarantus should be 

 cooked like spinach, and as it becomes more widely known it is 

 sure to be popular, except amongst persons who may consider it 

 beneath their dignity to have anything to do with so common a 

 weed. 



All the colonies. 



13. Angiopteris evecta, Hoffm., N.O. Filices, B.FL, vii., 694. 



The aboriginals used to feed on the pith of this tree-fern, which 

 contains a certain amount of starch similar to sago (Foster). 

 This plant is not endemic in Australia. 

 Queensland. 



14. Apium australe, TJion., (Syn. A. prostratum, Labill.; Petro- 

 selinium jyrostratum, DC, ; Helosciadiuni australe, Bunge ; 

 H. prostratum, Bunge) ; N.O. Umbelliferae, B.Fl., iii., 

 372. A. prostratum in Muell. Cens., p. 63. 



" Australian Celery." 



This plant may be utilized as a culinary vegetable (Mvieller). 



It is not endemic in Australia, 



All the colonies. 



