I oo A USTRAL1AN B TANY. 



by the winds. The roots, bark, young shoots, and foliage 

 are readily eaten by stock of all kinds, and their muci- 

 laginous contents are no doubt nutritious. The blacks 

 also make use of the pith and roots of this tree as food. 



Australian Colchiciun. — BURCHARDIA UMBEL- 

 LATA. (Natural Order, Lill\ce,e.) Pp. 17, 207. — A 

 common and attractive bulbous plant, bearing umbels of 

 white, star-shaped blossoms. It may be found in profusion 

 in our meadows during early spring. 



Australian Virgin's Bower. — CLEMATIS. (Natural 

 Order, Ranunculace.e.) Pp. 18, 196. — The Native Supple- 

 jack or Virgin's Bower {Clematis aristata) is the species most 

 frequently met with in Victoria. It grows along the coast 

 line on rocky declivities, and reaches to sub-alpine heights. 

 In the moist ravines and fern gullies of Victoria it is found 

 in the greatest perfection, making its way to the tops of the 

 tallest trees, clothing them with a dense canopy of foliage, 

 and drooping in graceful festoons from the branches. The 

 small-leaved Virgin's Bower {Clematis microphylla), called in 

 South Australia ' Old man's beard,' is an attractive, soft- 

 wooded climber, chiefly found on the banks of creeks and 

 rivers, and along the coast line, where it grows with such 

 luxuriance as occasionally to completely cover the other 

 vegetation. This species is common to all Australia and 

 Tasmania. 



B 



Bamboo.— BAMBUSA. (Natural Order, Gramine.e.) 

 P. 19. — This genus of gigantic grasses thrives tolerably in 

 Victoria, but not so well as in New South Wales, Queens- 

 land, and South Australia. In their multifarious uses, they 



