4298. Eremophila lokgifolia. 



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

 January 18, 1900. 



"A tall, erect shrub of a slightly hoary appearance, from 10 to 15 feet high; leaves 

 scattered, linear-lanceolate, 3 to 5 inches long, tapering into recurved points. Flow- 

 ers about 1 inch long, dull red, velvety outside. The sacred tree of the blacks, who 

 call it Kooyamurra in the Dieyerie dialect of central Australia. The aborigines use 

 the branches of this tree, or large shrub, for the sacred purpose of covering their 

 dead. The wood is used also in certain operations by the blacks. A piece of wood 

 of tlie Kooyamurra about 6 inches long is pointed at one end sufficiently sharp to 

 pierce the nose, the partition of which the operator takes in his left hand', while he 

 pierces it with the right. Before and after the operation the men and women sing, 

 believing that by singing a great deal of pain is taken away from the child. After 

 the hole is made a large quill is inserted to prevent it from closing up and kept there 

 until the wound is thoroughly healed. This operation is inflicted on boys or girls at 

 the age of from 5 to 10 years and is called Moodla-willpa, which means nose hole. 

 Another performance in which the wood of the Kooyamurra is used is the Chirrin- 

 chirrie, or extraction of the teeth. This cruel and painful practice consists in knock- 

 ing out two front teeth of the upper jaw. Two pieces of the Kooyamurra tree, each 

 about a foot long, are sharpened at one end to a wedge-like shape, then placed on either 

 side of the tooth to be extracted and driven between as tightly as possible. The 

 skin of a wallaby, in two or three folds, is then placed on the tooth about to be 

 drawn, after which a stout piece of wood about 2 feet long is applied to the wallaby 

 skin and struck with a heavy stone, two quick blows being sufficient to loosen the 

 tooth, which is then pulled out by the hand. This operation is repeated on the 

 second tooth. To stop the bleeding, damp clay is placed on the holes whence the 

 teeth were extracted." {From G. Gason's "The Dieyerie Tribe of Central Australia.") 



4299. Eremophila maciilata. 



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

 January 18, 1900. 



' 'A tall, handsome shrub with rigid, spreading branches, nearly glabrous. The 

 flowers, which are very numerous, are red, more or less variegated with yellow, and 

 dotted inside. Besides the lovely flowers, it retains its distinctive evergreen appear- 

 ance during the driest weather, and is a conspicuous feature among the surrounding 

 vegetation. It is well w T orth cultivating for its ornamental qualities. The aboriginal 

 name is Nanyoo . " ( Koch . ) 



4300. Myoporum montanum. Myrtle bush. 



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

 January 18, 1900. 



"A large shrub, leaves narrow lanceolate, acute, on long stalks, corolla white, with 

 violet dots inside and bearded, flowers in clusters from 3 to 6. The aboriginal name 

 in the Dieyerie dialect of Central Australia is Adloo. The fruits are eaten by the 

 blacks." {Koch.) 



4301. Tribulus hystrix. 



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

 January 18, 1900. 



''This annual herb, with long prostrate branches and pinnate leaves, the leaflets of 

 which are obliquely oblong in about 7 pairs, produces an abundance of good fodder 

 for all herbivora during the hot summer months. The seeds germinate readily in 

 October or November after a good rain, but they are somewhat prickly and objec- 

 tionable in the fleeces of sheep. Nevertheless it is a very useful fodder and worthy 

 of trial. The aboriginal name in the Dieyerie dialect is Koola." (Koch.) 



4302. Abutilok mitchelli. Abutilon. 



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

 January 18, 1900. 



"An undershrub, growing from 2 to 3 feet high, with large, velvety leaves and 

 showy, yellow flowers. Like all species of mallows, this is favorably known as a 



