BY J. H. MAIDEN. 539 



169. PoRTULACA NAPiFORMis, F.V.M., N.O. Portulaceae, B.FL, i., 

 169. 



The tubers of this plant are used by the natives for food. 



Queensland and Northern Australia. 



170. PoRTULACA OLERACEA, Linn., N.O. Portulacese, B.FL, i., 



169. 



"Pigweed" or "Purslane" (of England), " Thukouro " of the 

 aboriginals of the Cloncurry River. 



The seeds of this plant are largely used for food Vjy the natives 

 of the interior. One would suppose that so small a seed 

 would scarcely repay the labour of collecting, but the natives 

 obtain large quantities by pulling up the plant, throwing them 

 in heaps, which after a few days they turn over, and an 

 abundant supply of seed is found to have fallen out, and can be 

 easily gathered up ; the food prepared from this seed must be 

 highly nutritious, for during the season that it lasts the natives 

 get in splendid condition on it. The seeds are jet black and look 

 like very fine gunpowder. The natives grind them in the usual 

 mill {i.e., a large flat-stone or bed-stone on which the seed is put, 

 and a smaller one to be held in the hand for grinding), and of the 

 flour they make a coarse paste. — See Marsilea. 



" We had almost daily occasion to praise the value of the 

 Purslane, which not only occurred in every part of the country 

 explored, but also principally in the neighbourhood of rivers, 

 often in the greatest abundance. We found it in sandy and 

 grassy localities so agreeably acidulous as to use it for food 

 without any preparation, and I have reason to attribute the 

 continuance of our health partly to the constant use of this 

 valuable plant. The absence of other antiscorbutic herbs in the 

 north, and the facility with which it may be gathered, entitle it 

 to particular notice." Baron Mueller's Botanical Report of the 

 North Australian Expedition (quoted by Dr. Woolls). 



All the colonies except Tasmania. 



