AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 7 



then the termination becomes -eri. This recommendation has been 

 followed throughout the present work. Botanical names place a con- 

 siderable strain on the memory in any case, and to ask the user of 

 them to remember that Bentham named one plant Abutilon Mitchelli 

 and another Goodenia Mitchellii, although both specific names com- 

 memorate the same man (Sir Thomas Mitchell), is to ask too much. 

 Then we find Hibbertia Billardierii, F. v. M. (altered by Bentham to 

 H. Billardieri) and Br achy come Billardieri, Benth. ; Viola Cunning- 

 hamii. Hook. f. and Senecio Curminghami, DC. (altered by Bentham to 

 8. Cunninghamri) ; Acacia Bidwilli, Benth., and Helichrysum Bidwillii, 

 Benth. Many other similar irregularities could be cited, and the need 

 of some uniform practice must be evident to all. 



A cautious attitude has been adopted with respect to naturalised 

 aliens. These were not described at all in Mueller's "Key to the 

 System of Victorian Plants" (1887-88), Tate's "Flora of Extra- 

 Tropical South Australia" (1890), or Moore and Betche's "Hand- 

 book of the Flora of New South Wales" (1893). This is contrary to 

 the practice of botanists in all other countries, where naturalised 

 plants, that is to say, alien plants growing wild and propagating them- 

 selves spontaneously, are included in the flora without any distin- 

 guishing sign. In this book only well-established aliens are described, 

 and they are preceded by an asterisk. The descriptions are brief, 

 and those who desire further information on these and also on many 

 other introduced plants wmich have only been found in a few localities, 

 are referred to my illustrated l ' Naturalised Flora of South Australia. ' ' 

 In a few instances, such as Cynodon dactylon and Juncus bufonius, 

 there is some doubt as to the category in which the plants should be 

 placed — native or foreign — but to omit all our common aliens would 

 be to hamper the progress of the student and the plant-lover, especially 

 if he begins his investigations near a town. In that case the first 

 plant which he gathers will most probably be an immigrant. 



Our native plants have been to a considerable extent exterminated 

 in the settled districts, except along the roads and railway reserves, 

 or in stony, scrubby, or hilly country. The plough, the grazing of 

 stock, the hardening of the soil in winter by the hoofs of large cattle, 

 and the attacks of rabbits, who in time of drought eat even the bark 

 of shrubs, are the chief causes of this destruction. The invasion of 

 introduced plants is also effecting a great change in our flora. The 

 smaller plants of Australia, isolated for thousands of years and 

 unaccustomed to the battle of life with foreign plants and large 

 animals, lack the viability of the flora of other lands. The trees are 

 an exception, although seedlings are in many cases destroyed by stock. 

 Near towns the alien grasses, clovers, medics, and various lowly plants 

 and weeds from abroad occupy most of the ground. 



