THE FLOWERING EUSH FAMILY. 181 



which is capable of being converted into paper, and it has 

 been used for brushes. 



Grass tree (Kingia australis). A remarkable plant, native 

 of the south and south-west of Australia, growing in dry 

 places. It has a trunk a foot in diameter, composed of 

 the bases of the hard, three-sided, grass-like leaves. The 

 leaves are successively produced from the top of the stem, 

 and curve downwards. The older ones fall away, or more 

 often are burnt away by the grass-fires of the natives, leaving 

 the charred and blackened stems which in old plants attain 

 the height of 6 — 8 feet. 



The flowers are borne in dense round heads, on a footstalk 

 about a foot long, several rising from the crown of leaves. 



It possesses no special economic uses. 



The family is represented in New Zealand by the genus 

 Astelia, tufted plants with pineapple-like leaves. 



THE WATER PLANTAIN OR POND-WEED 

 ALLIANCE. 



This alliance consists of about 1 50 species of widely dis- 

 tributed soft grass, or broad leaved herbs ; generally growing 

 in water or wet places. But few possess economic properties 

 or uses. 



The Flowering Rush Family. 



(BUTOMACE^.) 



This, with the two following families, are considered by 

 some botanists as one only. They are marsh, or floating 

 plants, found in the tropical and temperate zones. The 

 present family consists of about 6 species, and is represented 

 in this country by the Flowering Rush (Butomus umhellatus.) 



Hydrocleis Humholdtii. A native of tropical America, 

 having oval, heart-shaped leaves, which float on the surface 

 of the water in which it groAvs. It produces large, showy 



K 2 



