Cvi FLORA OF TASMANIA. [Naturalized Plants 



circumstances which seem to be temporarily favourable will prove to be so permanently : perhaps they 

 over-stimulate, and will, by gradually effecting a change on the constitution of the naturalized plants, 

 either render them eventually distinct forms, or bring on degeneracy and consequent extinction. 



In all these discussions it must be borne in mind that no wild species is stationary in number of 

 individuals. None will survive all time ; each must reach a period of maximum development, and 

 decline from it to extinction ; and as we do not know that man can add to or take from the sum of 

 vegetable matter on the globe, it may very well be the case, that in every instance where his opera- 

 tions tend to an inordinate development of a species in individuals, he is shortening the period of 

 time otherwise allotted for the duration of that species. Man, as I have observed before (p. viii. in 

 note), may hasten or retard the operations of Nature, but cannot reverse them. 



The following list refers almost entirely to Melbourne, a colony established about twenty years 

 ago. I have no such list of the introduced plants of any other Australian colony, and the scattered 

 notices of naturalized plants that I have met with in various travels, are not sufficiently definite to be 

 quoted. Thus, in Mitchell's first journey, I find a singular observation, that Horehound and common 

 Grass, or Dog-tooth Grass, spring up wherever the white man sets his foot, by which I assume that 

 the Marrubium and Cynodon are meant, but cannot be sure. 



Catalogue of some of the Naturalized Plants of the Australian, Colonies, (chiefly compiled from the Mel- 

 bourne collections and notes of F. Adamson, Esq.,) to which are added the species enumerated in 

 Mueller's Reports, and Bac7chouse's and Ghinn's MSS. 



The letter A indicates that the species is also naturalized in the northern United States, according to 

 Professor Asa Gray's Manual. 



( 

 A 1. Ranunculus -oem, L. Very common at Melbourne. (Britain, pastures.) 



A 2. Ranunculus sceleratus, L. Victoria. (Britain, pastures, ditches.) 



A 3. Ranunculus muricatus, L. Victoria. (Europe, cornfields.) 



A 4. Delphinium Consolida, L. New South "Wales. (Europe, cornfields.) 



5. Papaver album, L. New South Wales. (Europe.) 

 A 6. Papaver dubium, L. New South Wales. (Britain.) 



7. Escholtzia Californica, Cham. Victoria. (California.) 

 A S. Argemone Mexicana, L. New South Wales. (South United States.) 

 A 9. Fumaria officinalis, L. (Britain, waste places.) 



A 10. Barharea prcecox, L. An overpowering weed in Tasmania, Bachh. (Britain, hedges, etc.) 

 A 11. Nasturtium officinale, L. (Britain, water plant.) 

 A 12. Sisymbrium officinale, L. Victoria. (Britain, roadsides.) 

 A 13. Capsella Bursa-pastoris, L. Ubiquitous. (Britain, waste places.) 



14. Lepidum sativum, L. New South Wales. (South Europe.) 

 A 15. Lepidum ruderale, L. Victoria. (Britain, waste places.) 

 A 16. Senebiera didyma, Pers. Victoria, Tasmania. (Britain, waste places.) 

 A 17. Raphanus Eaphanistrum, L. Victoria. Sometimes colouring the cornfields pink, Adamson. 



(Britain, weed of culture.) 

 A 18. Brassica Napus, L. Tasmania. (Britain, weed of culture.) 

 A 19. Sinapis arvensis, L. Tasmania. (Britain, weed of culture.) 



20. Islalxa, pusilla, With. Grows to a great size (2 feet) in cultivated ground, looking very 

 different from its usual small state. Victoria, Adamson. (Europe.) 

 A 21. Malva sylvestris, L. Victoria and Tasmania. (Britain, roadsides.) 



