July, 1952 
THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST 
Page fifty-seven 
DIPSACACEAE 
235. Scabiosa maritima (Purple Pin- 
cushion). Faint fragrance. February 20, 
April 8-June 9, August 11, September 9- 
December 28. Tusmore, Modbury, Colonel 
Light Gardens. Very common by the road- 
side towards Reynella. The flowers vary 
from white to lilac and dark purple and 
are quite pretty. 
CUCURBITACEAE 
236. Ecballium Elateriurn (Squirting 
Cucumber). September 20-May 5. In the 
Mitcham Railway Yard and an adjacent 
wood-yard and in the yard of the Adelaide 
Railway Station. The cucumber when ripe 
and disturbed separates from its stalk and 
projects seeds on to surrounding objects, 
frequently hitting people. 
237. Citrullus vulgaris (Wild, Bitter or 
Bastard Melon). April 9. This is the culti- 
vated melon gone wild. Though bitter it is 
apparently eaten by stock in the North. 
238. Cucumis nvyrio carpus (Paddy 
Melon). February 23-March 15. Occasional 
plants at Enfield and Parkside. Very com- 
mon in sandy soil near the coast. Supposed 
to cause blindness in horses in the interior, 
but this is doubtful. 
COMPOSITAE 
239. A —Aster sub ulatus. March 21, April 
9-May 7. In King William Road near the 
City Baths; also found in a storm channel 
at Lock leys. 
240. AA — Erigeron crispus. Some in 
flower all the year. Common along foot- 
paths even in the city. Looks somewhat 
like the stinkwort but without the 
characteristic smell. 
241 . A —Xanthium spinosum (Bathurst 
Burr). December 29, January 31-April 12, 
May 8. On roadsides and in waste land. 
The hooked spines on the fruiting heads 
catch in clothing and in sheep’s wool, in 
the latter case causing trouble. 
242. Galmsoga parviflora. December 29. 
March 16, May 25. Burnside. 
243. Achillea tomentosa (A Milfoil). 
December 6. A colony has become estab- 
lished by the roadside at Hope Valley. 
244. A — Senecio vulgaris (Common 
Groundsel). August 8-December 19. Com- 
mon in unweeded gardens. Good food for 
canaries. 
245. A — Senecio pterophorus. A single 
plant of this recent introduction, so com- 
mon now in our hills, appeared in 1951 in 
the University grounds near Frome Road 
but was cut down before it flowered. 
246. Senecio Mikanoides (scandins). 
This scrambling ivy-leaved Senecio with 
yellow flowers is common in the hills. It 
has also appeared at Burnside near the 
creek. 
247. A —Calendula arvensis (Field Mari- 
gold). March 11-September 13, October 26, 
December 3. Is present in the University 
grounds and other places. 
248. Osteospermum moniliferum. Doubt- 
ful faint fragrance. July 28, August 27- 
November 2 with a few flowers to Decem- 
ber 7. Very abundant at Belair, over- 
whelming the native vegetation and spread 
in parts by birds, probably starlings. Has 
appeared in places on the plains such as 
Burnside near the Tusmore bus terminus, 
at Kings Park and at Lockleys. A nuisance 
but easily eradicated. 
249. AA — Cryptostemma calendulaceum 
(Cape Dandelion). July 20, August 22 (a 
few out), September 3-December 14. Com- 
mon, but not so common as 50 years ago. 
Sometimes when in massed flower giving a 
yellow tinge to fields. A second class fodder. 
250. A — Inula graveolens (Stinkwort). 
March 21 -May 18, a few flowers to June 4. 
In the 1880’s and 1 890’s, fields near Adelaide 
were densely covered with it, but it is now 
much less abundant. It causes trouble in 
sheep sometimes when, in the absence of 
grass, too much is eaten. 
251. AA — Cynara Cardunculus (Globe 
Artichoke, Cardoon). Moderate fragrance. 
July 3 (one flower seen), October 3, Nov- 
ember 17-February 16. Occasional flowers 
especially after rain up to March 3, May 
21. The leaves die off but grow again after 
the first rains. A seedling in the ground of 
Scots Church, North Terrace, was chopped 
out. A very handsome but prickly plant 
when in full bloom, with beautiful blue 
flowers. It is a wild form of the cultivated 
artichoke, the bracts of whose flowers are 
eaten. There is much nourishment in the 
seeds which are eaten by goldfinches and 
by stock when the heads have been soft- 
ened by rain. 
252. Cirsium lanceolatum (Spear 
Thistle). Faint fragrance. February 14-April 
