BY J. H. MAIDEN. . 505 



65. DioscoREA HASTiPOLiA, Endl., N.O. Dioscorideae, B.Fl., 



vi., 461. 



A "Yam." 



One of the hardiest of the yams. The tubers are largely con- 

 sumed by the local aborigines for food ; it is the only plant on 

 which they bestow any kind of cultivation, crude as it is 

 (Mueller). 



Western Australia. 



66. DioscoREA SATiv A, Linn., (Syn. D. latifolia, Benth.; D.hvlhi- 

 fera, Forst. ; Hehnia hulhifera, Kunth), N.O. Dioscorideae, 



B.FL, vi., 461. 



"Yam." "Karro"of the aboriginals of the Mitchell River, 

 North Queensland. 



This yam is eaten by the aboriginals of Australia, and in India 

 it is cultivated almost everywhere as a vegetable. In Watts' 

 Diet, the tubers are said to contain 23 per cent, of starch, and 68 

 per cent, of woody-fibre, gum, &c. In the same work, however, 

 the tubers of D. hulhifera (merged in this species) are only 

 credited with 10 per cent, of starch. 



Queensland and Northern Australia. 



67. DioscoREA TRANSVERSA, E.Br., (Syn. I). 2^unctata, R.Br.), 



N.O. Dioscoride^, B.Fl., vi., 460. 



" Long Yam." " Kowar " of the aborigines of Central Queens- 

 land. 



The small young tubers are eaten by the aborigines without any 

 preparation (Thozet). 



New South Wales, Queensland, and Northern Australia. 



68. DoDON^A spp. div., N.O. Sapindacese. 



" Native Hops," on account of the capsules bearing some resem- 

 blance to hops, both in appearance and taste. 



In the early days of settlement the fruits of these trees were 

 extensively used, yeast and beer of excellent quality being 



