GLOSSARY. 121 



trees exceeds 80 feet. The thickened sap of the Moreton 

 Bay Fig is converted into a kind of India-rubber. The fruit 

 of another Queensland species — the Cluster Fig {Ficus 

 glomeratd) — is edible. 



Firethorn Nightshade. — SOLANUM PYRACAN- 

 THUM. (Natural Order, Solane^e.) P. 30. — A beauti- 

 ful purple-flowered shrub, indigenous to Madagascar. The 

 leaves and branches bear numerous reddish-brown spines : 

 the former are covered with a downy substance. There are 

 several species of Nightshade indigenous to the Australian 

 colonies, and many of which are notoriously poisonous. 



Flagellaria. — (Natural Order, Liliace^e.) See chapter 

 ' Australian Vegetation,' p. 90. 



Flame Tree. — STERCULIA (BRACHYCHITON) 

 ACERIFOLIA. (Natural Order, Sterculiace^e.) Pp. 

 3°) 53? 87, 191. — One of the most magnificent trees in 

 existence, bearing a profusion of scarlet coral-like racemes 

 of flowers, and large bright green leaves. The bark, which, 

 like that of most of the tribe, is composed of concentric 

 layers, yields by maceration a lace-like bast of fine texture, 

 which can be converted into cordage, ropes, mats, etc. 

 The tree is found on many parts of the eastern coast of 

 Australia; seldom far inland. In the Illawarra district, 

 fifty or sixty miles south of Sydney, it is very plentiful. 

 Commencing at the Macleay River, it is found in the brush 

 lands of most of the northern rivers of New South Wales — 



Tweed River, on the borders of Queensland and New South Wales, in 

 1 87 1. The surroundings give a faithful representation of the spot 

 where this enormous Ficus macrophylla was growing, and will furnish 

 some idea of the exuberant vegetation of the brush lands. See chapter 

 ' Australian Vegetation/ p. 88. 



