HO A US TRALIA N B TA N\ '. 



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. Indian Corn (Maize).— ZEA MAYS. (Natural Order, 

 Gramine^e.) Pp. 3, 20, 54, 183. — A native of America, but 

 now cultivated for its useful grain in most warm countries. 

 A tall, stout-growing plant, more resembling a cane than a 

 grass, and reaching a height of over six feet, the stalks sur- 

 mounted by thick heads or cobs of grain, contained in a 

 sheath. Australia, particularly the northern and western parts 

 of New South Wales, is well suited to its cultivation, and it is 

 extensively grown in those districts. In Victoria it furnishes 

 large quantities of green fodder for cattle, and is also culti- 

 vated as a grain crop in the Bairnsdale district. 



Iris.— IRIS FLORENTINA, ' Fleur de lis. 1 (Natural 

 Order, Iride.e.) Pp. 17, 189. — The rhizomes of this plant 

 furnish the principal supply of orris-root, used by perfumers. 

 It is the large, white-flowered Flag Lily of gardens, and is 

 common in Victoria. This and a purple-flowered variety are 

 also naturalized in New South Wales and South Australia. 

 Notwithstanding the abundance of roots that could be pro- 

 pagated, they have never been turned to account in any of the 

 colonies, and the supply of this root has still to be imported. 



Iron Barks. — (EUCALYPTUS SIDEROPHLOIA, 

 E. MELANOPHLOIA, E. CREBRA, and E. LEU- 

 COXYLON.) See chapter ' Australian Vegetation ; ' also 

 Glossary, ' Gum.' 



Ivy.— HEDERA HELIX. (Natural Order, Araliace^e.) 

 Pp. 14, 17, 43. — A native of Britain, but acclimatised and very 

 abundant in Australia, where its dark, glossy, green foliage 

 may be seen creeping over and hiding old walls, buildings, etc. 



Ixia. — See 'African Corn Lily,' pp. 17, 97. 



