I ] 8 A USTRALIAN BOTANY. 



find an Australian wood which will answer for all except 

 the finest line engraving, thus supplying a great want, for 

 boxwood is both scarce and expensive. 



Eel-Grass or Spring-plant.— VALLISNERI A SPIR- 

 ALIS. (Natural Order, Hypocharide^e.) P. 64. — A 

 curious grass-like aquatic found in rivers, lakes, etc. The 

 spiral flower-stalks, which are sent up sometimes from a 

 great depth, resemble the springs of a carriage lamp, hence 

 the common name ' Spring-plant.' The name Eel-grass 

 is probably applied from the fact that eels either feed on, 

 or shelter themselves under the leaves. 



Elseocarpus. — (Natural Order, TiliacejE.) See chapter 

 'Australian Vegetation,' p. 91. 



Elder.— SAMBUCUS. (Natural Order, Caprifoliace^e.) 

 Pp. 38, 185. — A well-known shrub or tree, the bark and leaves 

 of which are used in medicine ; the berries, besides producing 

 elderberry wine, are frequently used to adulterate port wine. 



Elderberry Ash. — PANAX SAMBUCIFOLIUS. 

 (Natural Order, Araliace/E.) P. 29. — A very handsome 

 shrub, or small glossy-leaved tree, with pinnate foliage ; 

 chiefly found in the underwood of deep forest glens and 

 rich mountain slopes of Victoria, New South Wales, and 

 Tasmania. From its resemblance to the common Moun- 

 tain Ash — or Rowan Tree — (Pyrns aucuparid) it is known 

 in some parts by the former name. The wood, which is 

 light, yet tough, is used by splitters for making axe handles. 



Elkhorn Fern. — PLATYCERIUM ALCICORNE. 

 (Natural Order, Filices.) Pp. 59, 90. — This singular but 

 beautiful epiphytal fern is indigenous to temperate Aus- 

 tralia. It, however, extends farther to the southward, and is 

 more common in New South Wales. Some hundreds of 



