INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN FORAGE PLANTS. 217 



Burdekin and Flinders Rivers in 1863-4. He recommends frequent 

 burning off on the stony ridges it frequents with the view to its 

 suppression or eradication. 



52. Geijera parviflora, Lindl., B.Fl.,i., 364. Syn.: G. pendula, 

 Lindl. N.O. Rutacea?. "Wilga," "Sheep-bush," "Dogwood" 

 and " Willow." Found in all the Colonies except Tasmania. 



Mr. S. Dixon states that sheep only are particularly fond of 

 this bush, and it seems quite unaffected by droughts. 



53. Geranium dissectum, Linn., B. Fl., i., 296. G. carolinianum 

 in Muell. Cens. p. 13. Syn.: G. pilosurn, Forst. ; G . parviflorum, 

 Willd. ; G. philonothum, DC; G. potentilloides, L'Her.; G. 

 austrah, Nees ; G. carolinianum, Linn. N.O. Geraniacese. 

 " Crowfoot," " Terrat " of the aboriginals of the Coranderrk 

 Station Victoria. Found throughout the Colonies. 



This plant is known and highly prized as a very superior 

 pasture herb. It is very plentiful during the spring time of good 

 seasons on the sandhills. The seeds — which ripen about the end 

 of September- — are very injurious to sheep and wool, and, when 

 this plant is plentiful, often cause the death of numbers of sheep, 

 and if the shearing is late injure the wool to a very great extent. 

 The seeds, which have exceedingly sharp, hard, barbed points, 

 readily attach themselves to wool or the skins of sheep, whilst the 

 spiral shaft with the long crank attached gives the whole the action 

 of an auger worked by the movements of the animal or the action 

 of the winds. If the point of one of these seeds is struck lightly 

 into the sand on a windy clay it will soon bury itself up to the 

 base : this is how the seeds are planted by nature. Injurious as 

 this plant is, it has its redeeming points, for it is one of our most 

 nutritious fodder plants, all kinds of stock being exceedingly fond 

 of it, and when cut in a green state and before the seeds mature 

 it makes excellent hay. This plant is not endemic in Australia. 



54. Gompholobium uncinatum, A. Cunn., B. FL, ii., 46. N.O. 

 Leguminosse. Found in New South Wales. 



This small shrub is noteworthy as being very hurtful to sheep 

 that may eat of it. (Treasury of Botany.) 



South Australia is quoted (op. cit.) as its habitat, but this is a 

 mistake. 



55. Gossypium Sturtii, F.v.M., B. Fl., i., 222. Syn. : Sturtia 



gossypioides, R. Br. N.O. Malvaceae. Found in South 

 Australia and New South Wales. 



This plant affords stock a good summer food. (Dixon.) 



