168 AUSTRALIAN BOTANY. 



grass (P!a?ita£o major) is a very common weed on roadsides 

 and in cultivated fields. It is cosmopolitan in habit ; has 

 broad, prominently - ribbed leaves, and long flower - stalks 

 terminating in cylindrical spikes of greenish-coloured flower. 

 It is common in these colonies, having probably been intro- 

 duced with grass seeds. Sheep and cattle are fond of it. 

 The common Rib-grass (Plantago lanceolate?) is extensively 

 used for laying down mixed pastures. It is a good fodder 

 plant. 



Rice-paper Plant. — ARALIA PAPYRIFERA. (Natural 

 Order, Araliaceje.) P. 30. — From the stems of this plant 

 a very fine snowy pith is obtained, from which rice-paper 

 is made. It is a native of the island of Formosa, where it 

 flourishes in the swampy forests ; and is largely exported 

 to China for utilisation in various manufactures. It is 

 very common in ornamental plantations throughout the 

 colonies, and its large palmate leaves are very effective in 

 scenic embellishments when employed skilfully. The 

 plant will probably be found of industrial importance in 

 the future of these colonies. 



Ripogonum. — (Natural Order, Liliaceje.) See chapter 

 ' Australian Vegetation.' p. 90. 



Rock Rose. — CISTUS. (Natural Order, Cistine^e.) 

 P. 41. — A family of attractive shrubs ; the flowers, resembling 

 those of the dog-rose, die within a few hours after expansion. 

 The species known as Gum Cistus is most esteemed. 



Rose. — ROSA. (Natural Order, Rosacea.) Pp. 26, 

 28, 29, 39, 41, 54, 63. — This beautiful plant, the theme 

 of poets from the earliest days, has, by cultivation and 

 hybridization, been indefinitely multiplied into varieties 

 in all parts of the civilised world. Volumes have been 



