186 J. H. MAIDEN. 



The gum from this tree is said to make good adhesive mucilage. 

 It was sent from Perth to the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, 

 1886, and was thus reported upon, . . . " is a tragacanth- 

 like gum, which swells in water but does not dissolve. It might, 

 perhaps, be made to serve as a stiffening material for the calico 

 printer." It is a native of Western Australia. 



Rubiace^:. 

 Gardenia resinosa, F.v.M. 



Occurs in Australia (Northern Territory), and hence the exuda- 

 tions of Gardenias are of interest to us, particularly those from 

 the South Sea Islands, 



The following note by Mueller in Rep. Inter col. Exh. Melb. 

 1886-7 is interesting. The species is doubtless one of those 

 referred to by Heckel in later years. 



"Gardenia Resin from New South Wales." — "The species of 

 Gardenia yielding this resin remains as yet phytographically 

 unknown. It is probably allied to a species discovered by myself 

 in North Australia, Gardenia resinosa, so called on account of its 

 large amount of resinous exudation. The resin from New Cale- 

 donia had evidently been fused; it is brittle. On fracture, it 

 presents a yellowish colour; it is tasteless but possesses an odour 

 reminding one of ginger. When leniently heated it assumes a waxy 

 consistence. It dissolves almost without residue in cold alcohol, 

 and contains, therefore, only a trifle of gummy substance. The 

 alcoholic solution is limpid and yellow, rendered milky by addition 

 of water. When dissolved in boiled alcohol it forms after cooling 

 a large deposit. Evaporation of spirit leaves a pellucid, greenish- 

 yellow resin. This pure resin dissolves in ether, oil of turpentine, 

 and partly in strong alkaline solutions." 



"And again, "Ouliepe is a New Caledonian resin obtained by 

 mastication of the buds of Gardenia ouliepe\ Vieill., edulis, Vieill., 

 and sulcata, Gsertn.; it is used by the natives for cement and 

 caulking ships ; it has a yellow colour, an aromatic disagreeable 

 taste and a glossy fracture. It is met with in compact lumps, it 



