INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN FORAGE PLANTS. 225 



the Darling, especially in dry seasons when other herbage fails. 

 Baron Mueller believes in the poisonous properties attributed to 

 this particular species. {Trans. R.V., Victoria, Yol. vi., 1861-4.) 

 It would appear to be very similar in its effects to the preceding 

 species. 



" I may add that this plant is popularly supposed to produce a 

 sort of insanity, ending in some cases in death, in stock that feed 

 upon it. I am of opinion that this is incorrect ; I have never 

 seen any stock actually feeding upon it, but I have seen horses 

 eat freely, without any evil effect, of another species of the same 

 genus (?) which grows plentifully on the black soil flats which are 

 at times inundated by the waters of the Darling. The Hon. 

 William Macleay, who has had large experience in a district 

 where this plant grows, informed me a few days ago that he also 

 was of opinion that it is not poisonous to stock." (H. R. Whittel, 

 in Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S. W., ix., 179.) As testimony in regard 

 to the properties of S. Greyana this is a little vague, but I have 

 given it verbatim. 



88. Tephrosia purpurea, Pers., B. Fl., ii., 209. Syn. : T. 

 ])iscatoria, Pers., and others. N,0. Leguminosae. Found in 

 South Australia, New South Wales to Northern Australia. 



These species possess properties deleterious to stock. The 

 latter was reported from the Flinders River, Queensland, as a 

 poison herb. (Bailey and Gordon.) T. rosea, F. v. M., is also 

 poisonous. 



89. Trachymene australis, Bentli., B. Fl., iii., 349. Didiscus 

 pilosus in Muell. Cens., p. 62. Syn. : Didiscus p>ilosus y 

 Benth. ; D. anisocarpus, F. v. M. ; D. grandis, F. v. M. ;, 

 Dimetopia anisocarpa, Turcz. ; D. grandis, Turcz. N.O. 

 Umbelliferse. " Wild Parsnip." Found in all the Colonies. 



Recently (December, 1887) the sudden death of numbers of 

 cattle in the vicinity of Danclenong, Victoria, was attributed to 

 their having eaten a plant known as the wild parsnip. Baron 

 Mueller pronounced specimens forwarded to him by the Chief 

 Inspector of Stock to belong to this species. Its action is so 

 powerful that no remedial measures seem to be of any avail. The 

 only way to destroy the plant is to pull it up by the roots and 

 burn it. 



90. Trema aspera, Plume, B. Fl., vi., 158. (This, and other 



species of Trema recorded by Bentham, are all united by 

 Baron Mueller under the typical T. cannabina, Lour. Vide 



O-October 3, 1888. 



