BY J. H. MAIDEN. 529 



136. Mesembryanthemum JsquiLATERAhE, Baw., (Syn. M. glau- 

 cescens, Haw. ; M. Bossi, Haw. ; M. nigrescens, Haw. ; M. 

 prcecox, F.v.M.); N.O. Ficoidete, B.FL, iii , 324. 



"Pigs' faces." "Karkalla" of the Port Lincoln (8. A. ) aboriginals, 

 " Katwort" of the East Gippsland aborigines, " Berudur" of those 

 of the Lachlan Eiver, New South Wales. It was the " Canajong" 

 of the Tasmanian aboriginal. 



The fleshy fruit is eaten raw by the aborigines. The leaves are 

 eaten baked. Wilhelmi^ in Proc. R. S. Vict, 1860, gives an 

 interesting account of the preparation of this substance for food 

 by the Port Lincoln natives (S.A.) "Pressing the fruit (pigs' 

 faces) between their fingers, they drop the luscious juice into 

 their mouth. During the " Karkalla " season, which lasts from 

 January to the end of summer, the natives leads a comparatively 

 easy life ; they are free from any anxiety of hunger, as the plant 

 grows in all parts of the country, and most abundantly on the 

 sandy hills near the sea. The men generally gather only as much 

 as they want for the moment, but the women collect large 

 quantities for eating after supper. The Port Lincoln blacks eat 

 only the fruit of this plant, but those living between the Grampians 

 and the Victorian ranges, as a substitute for salt with their meat, 

 eat also the leaves of this saline plant." 

 All the colonies. 



137. MiCROSERis FoRSTERi, Hook., (Syn. Scorzonera scapigera, 

 Forsc; S. (Monermios) Lawrencii, Hook, f.; Phyllopappus 

 lanceolatus, Walp.), N.O. Compositse, B.Fl. iii., 676. 



" Murr-nong" or " Mirr n' yong" of the aboriginals of New 

 South Wales and Victoria. 



The tubers were largely used as food by the aboriginals. They 

 are sweet and milky, and in flavour resemble the cocoanut. 



All the colonies. 



