86 



brous. The leaves are linear, entire, an inch long or less; flowers axillary, solitary, 

 and sessile. The fruit consists of the succulent calyx inclosing one seed. * The fruit 

 is either yellow or red in color, and the aborigines of the Dieyerie tribe, of Central 

 Australia, eat them in great quantities. It is drought enduring. When other herbs 

 become scarce this plant is greedily eaten by sheep. The plant grows from seed; to 

 be planted 4 feet apart after the early autumn rains." (Kocli. ) 



4288. Kochia aphylla. Cottonbush. 



From South Australia. Received through Mr. Max Koch, of Mount Lvndhurst, 

 January 18, 1900. 



' ' Considered by Baron von Mueller a variety of K. villosa. Aboriginal name in the 

 Dieyerie dialect of South Australia, BulTca, also Poondoo-Poondoo. A rigid intricately 

 branched, scrubby shrub with slender, sometimes spinescent, branches growing 2 to 

 3 feet high. The leaves are minute, often deciduous, varying in length from one- 

 eighth to one-half inch. The fruiting calyx is furnished with a horizontal mem- 

 branous wing, which is finely veined and spreads to nearly three-fourths of an inch 

 in diameter. Considered the best of the Kochias. Horses or cattle fatten on it 

 quickly. It makes good chaff cut up with Mulga {Acacia aneura), and black oak, 

 ( Casuarina glauca). It grows well on alluvial flats along water courses. Should be 

 planted 6 feet apart in February or March, after rain." (Koch.) 



4289. Kochia brevifolia. Bluebush. 



From South Australia. Received through Mr. Max Koch, of Mount Lvndhurst, 

 January 18, 1900. 



"A rather slender, mostly erect, undershrub growing about 2 \ feet high. The 

 branches and foliage are clothed with short woolly hairs. The leaves are alternate, 

 sessile, linear, and about one-fourth inch long. The fruiting calyx is bordered by 5 

 horizontal membranous wings. Herbivora of all kinds are remarkably fond of this 

 shrub, which is, like all the Kochias, very hardy. The seeds should be sown 3 feet 

 apart during the early autumn months after rain." (Koch. ) 



4290. Kochia villosa. Cottonbush. 



From South Australia. Received through Mr. Max Koch, Mount Lyndhurst, 

 January 18, 1900. 



"An undershrub of erect, spreading or decumbent habit, more or less covered with 

 silky, villous wool. The leaves are alternate, linear, thick, and soft, about one-half 

 to three-fourths inch long. The fruits resemble those of K. aphylla. As this plant 

 is not so robust in growth as K. aphylla it has become rather scarce through long 

 droughts and close cropping, but it is well worthy of conservation and cultivation. 

 Plant at about the same time as K. aphylla, in rows 3 feet apart." (Koch. ) 



4291. Kochia pyramidata. Bluebush. 



From South Australia, Received through Mr. Max Koch, Mount Lyndhurst, 

 January 18, 1900. 



"Aboriginal name is Koonambirra, also Ooneroo. A divaricately branched shrub, 

 growing 3 to 4 feet high. The leaves are alternate, linear, obtuse, thick, and soft, 

 and often clustered in the axils. The fruiting calyx is an entire, annular, mem- 

 branous wing with a pyramidal membranous appendage. In severe seasons, when 

 herbage or grass has long disappeared, the usefulness of this shrub as a fodder is 

 inestimable. Seed should be sown in autumn, 6 feet apart." (KocIl.) 



4292. Atriplex angulata. Saltbush. 



From South Australia. Received through Mr. Max Koch, Mount Lvndhurst, 

 January 18, 1900. 



"A spreading saltbush; aboriginal name, in the Dieyerie dialect of Central Australia, 

 Maltoo. A dwarf shrubby plant with spreading branches of about 2 feet. The 

 leaves are on rather long stalks and are variable in shape and size. The fruiting 

 calyx is flat-stalked, membranous, and angular. This annual is fairly plentiful in 

 the district and is extensively cropped by cattle, sheep, aud^ horses, and is certainly 

 a valuable constituent of the "winter or spring pasture." (Koch.) 



