56 URTICACEE. 
E. Drummondii, Boiss., is a prostrate small leaved form eaten by 
horses, cattle and sheep without injury. By itself it is, however, not a 
good pasture plant. Starved and travelling sheep are apt to suffer when 
tempted by its green colour to gorge themselves upon it. Hence may arisg 
the statement that the plant is most poisonous in the early morning, less 
after a full day’s strong sun, and still less when cut and partially or com- 
pletely dried. As in the case of all indifferent or over-succulent pasture 
plants, an unlimited diet of it will accelerate the death of a weakly animal. 
The same applies to 
E. eremophila, A. Cunn., but such plants, though not to be welcomed’ 
when too abundant, are not to be classed as poisonous plants any more 
than sand can be regarded as a poison because sometimes it binds a horse. 
Baron von Mueller gave these plants, especially the former, a bad reputa- 
tion largely because of his inability to istinguish between popular super- 
stition and scientific evidence. ‘As long ago as 1886, it was shown that 
no poisonous principle could be extracted and that sheep could be fed on 
the plant without injury. (See Stanley in Agricultural Gazette of New 
South Wales, Sept., 1896.) 
«3s The following have also been recorded as poisoning stock :—Exca- 
caria Agallocha, L., Phyllanthus Gastroenni, ¥.v.M.,,and P. lacunarius,. 
F.v.M., but the evidence is quite unsatisfactory and the only species of 
Phyllanthus known elsewhere as poison plants are three tropical species (P. 
Conami, Sw., P. piscatoria, H.B.K., and P. virosus, Roxb.), employed 
by the natives in South America and the East Indies for stupefying fishes. 
Our native species need exact testing, for the branches and leaves of most 
species when eaten appear to exercise a diuretic action, 
Beyeria viscosa, Miq., is regarded as poisonous in New South Wales. 
Homalanthus Leschenaultianus (Carumbium populifolium, Reinw.), the 
_ so-called Native Poplar, was stated by Mueller to be.the cause of hema- 
turia in stock during dry seasons. Heematuria is more probably the result 
of the presence of a parasitic organism, and more good is likely to be done 
by providing stock ample supplies of clean, fresh water than by interfering 
with what appears to be a harmless shrub. 
Urticacr& (NETTLE F amity). 
A small genus mostly of stinging herbs, useless as fodder, though nettle 
tops yield a kind of spinach and nettle beer may be made from them. 
The stinging hairs inject formic acid into the skin. If the leaf is taken 
between the fingers, the hair is crushed before the point penetrates the skin. 
Urtica urens, L., is the Small Nettle; a small introduced annual, with 
rounded leaves, easily kept under. 
U. dioica, Ee is the Tall Nettle, also introduced, and a perennial with 
creeping stems, which need to be forked out of the soil. Beating down 
and cutting exhausts the plant slowly, but if neglected the plant_soon 
spreads again. Neither this plant, nor the native nettle, CU’, incisa, Poir., 
a similar plant with more deeply incised leaves, is as yet a troublesome 
weed. Like thistles and onion grass, they are plants which follow man, 
and occupy localities prepared by him for their reception. Nettles are 
usually commonest round dwellings, walls, waste places and rubbish heaps. 
Trema cannabina, Lour. (Syn. T. aspera, Bl., T. amboinensis, Bl., T. 
orientalis, Bl.). The Hemp Kurrajong. The leaves were stated by 
Mueller to be poisonous, but extracts have proved to be innocuous. The 
leaves may act either as a mechanical irritant or block the digestive tract 
by their indigestible fibres. An occasional mouthful would then do no 
