PREFATORY AND OTHER NOTES. 11 



rilla : The normal form in habit differs so much from H. ovata, 

 known as " Native Lilac" in South Australia, that the two plants 

 could not be grown in a garden the one as a substitute for the 

 other; yet Bentham in " Flora Australiensis" places H. ovata only 

 as a synonym. Both are met with in Queensland, and the latter is 

 given as a variety of the other. Another instance might be men- 

 tioned where two grasses, on account of their beauty, must sooner 

 or later be placed among those recommended for ornamental 

 planting or cultivating for use in a dry state for decorative 

 purposes. These are only mentioned in the " Flora Australiensis" 

 as synonyms of Pappophorum nigricans. R. Br. in Prod, gave 

 them as P. purpurascens and P. gracilc; and as they scarcely differ 

 from the first-named species in anything more than stature and 

 colour, Bentham, from a botanical point of view, was perfectly 

 correct; but when grown for special purposes a special name is 

 required for each; thus they will be found mentioned here as 

 forms. In the case of some new plants where perhaps my 

 specimens might scarcely warrant their being given as species,, 

 they have been placed as such because I fancied that when further 

 specimens were obtained they would so prove. 



As my writings on botanical matters principally deal with 

 plants of Queensland, I may be allowed to refer in these notes to- 

 the subject of seeds and the very short time many retain their 

 power of germination, and the probable cause of this. All persons 

 who have resided in Queensland for a number of years will 

 have observed that as a rule January and February are our wet 

 months, that then the whole atmosphere is often charged with 

 moisture, and that in most houses it becomes difficult to keep even 

 clothes hanging up in a room from becoming mildewed. Now, 

 this moisture has the effect upon seeds of causing an incipient 

 germination, particularly if kept in paper or bags and placed away 

 in box or drawer, and with some seeds when placed in a bottle and 

 corked ; and as germination can only take place once all such seeds 

 are destroyed. Thus it will be understood that climate has much 

 to do with the length of time seeds will retain their powers of 

 germination. An instance to illustrate what is here pointed out 

 may be given. The late Baron Mueller, in one of his writings,. 



