212 
SKETCH OF THE VEGETATION OF AUSTRALIA. 
folia) also occurs, with bluntly triangular 
leaves, the branches producing curious angu- 
lar woody galls. Other species of gum-trees 
are found ; among them two, remarkable for 
the strong and agreeable perfume which they 
exhale. E. melissiodora forms a bush about 
five feet high, with rough branches and nar- 
row oblong leaves, giving off a powerful 
scent of balm ; and E. citr'wdora is also a 
bush with angular rough branches, and green 
lance-shaped leaves, exhaling a strong, grate- 
ful, lemon-like odour. So copious are the 
scents given off by these bushes, that they 
perfume the air to a considerable distance. A 
beautiful new bottle-brush (Callistemon ner- 
vosiwi) also occurs, forming a large tree, in 
dry open forest-land, having pale - coloured 
branches, ovate lance-shaped leaves, and rich 
crimson flowers. 
Among numerous species of Acacia, is a 
small bush of considerable beauty (^L. Victo- 
ria;), with round branches, narrow, blunt, 
sickle-shaped leaves, and slender spikes of 
small flowers. Another, growing to the 
height of five feet, is A. uncifera, having 
roundish, softly downy branches, oblique 
oblong leaves, or phyllodia, and spikes com- 
posed of flowers crowded into downy balls. A 
new plant belonging to a small natural order 
(Goodeniacece), the greater number of species 
belonging to which are natives of New Hol- 
land, is Linschotenia discolor, which occurs in 
the valley of the Salvator River. It is a 
round-stemmed sub-shrub, with entire oblong 
acute leaves, densely woolly on their under 
sides, and branching spikes of brilliantly blue 
flowers. But it is impossible to particularize 
all the new forms found in these little known 
regions. 
The general character of the country up to 
the parallel of the 22° of latitude, is very 
similar, in general, to that of the Darling 
downs, consisting of fine open plains, or 
downs, covered with rich pasturage, and 
thinly sprinkled with clumps of trees, which, 
however, generally grow much thicker on the 
banks of the numerous rivers, lining their 
banks with a belt of forest. Generally facing 
these, towards the open country, occurs a 
dense scrub, often composed almost entirely 
of a peculiar sort of acacia, known to the 
squatters on the Darling by the name of 
" brigalow," or " bricklow," but also fre- 
quently formed of many other plants, some of 
them unknown. These scrubs are a great 
hindrance in travelling, as where they happen 
to be some miles in breadth, as often occurs, a 
long detour has to be made, rather than 
attempt to force a way through such an 
obstacle. Again : the occurrence of good 
land is commonly marked by quantities of the 
" Myal " {Acacia pendula) y the drooping 
branches and profusion of rich yellow flowers 
of which render it a great ornament at its 
flowering season, which appears to last several 
months. The occurrence of saline ground is 
marked by a peculiar vegetation of Chenopods 
and allied plants. On the parallel of the 25° 
of latitude, a much more mountainous tract of 
country exists, elevated above two thousand 
feet ; and in this region rise rivers flowing to 
the east, north-west, and south-west. Here 
the vegetation is more varied than on the 
plains, and of greater luxuriance, owing to 
the more constant supply of water falling in 
such districts ; while the lower country, into 
which these rivers flow, shows a variation of 
vegetation corresponding with the supply of 
moisture. About this latitude, in fact, appears 
to take place, as far as yet known, the strike 
of the rivers, on this side of Australia, for the 
different seas, the shorter ones flowing to the 
east or north-east, while the grand streams 
seem to flow towards the Gulf of Carpen- 
taria ; and the head waters of the drainages 
for the Darling and its tributaries in the 
south-west seem to reach very nearly, or 
quite, to this latitude. Here, at any rate, 
appears to be the ridge from which the waters 
are turned towards the Gulf of Carpentaria. 
After passing this ridge, a change of vegeta- 
tion might be looked for, but none can be 
noticed so readily as when, advancing some 
five or six degrees nearer to the equator, on 
the shores of the Gulf, the screw-pine (Pan- 
danus spiralis) begins to appear. But low 
under this, and at a long distance from the 
coast, a palm {Corypha sp.) is found on the 
Dawson River, in 25° latitude. The unde- 
veloped top, or bud, of this palm — that is, 
the young leaves before expansion — is good 
as food, if not eaten in too great quantities, 
being used either raw, or baked in hot ashes. 
Another plant affording great nutriment to 
the aborigines of the northern parts of New 
Holland is a species of water-lily (Nympheea), 
the seed-vessels of which are collected and 
roasted whole, after which the seeds are taken 
out, and the parched albumen is found to be 
sweet, palatable, and nutritious. Water-plants, 
indeed, are abundant in all the lagoons and 
rivers of this district, and every bit of perma- 
nent water or bog is covered with Nymphceas, 
VUlarsias, Potamogetons, and other water- 
plants, from many of which the natives 
obtain some addition to their fare as the sea- 
sons come round. Nor is it from the seeds 
of the Nymphaia alone that they derive a 
part of their sustenance, but also from their 
roots, which are sought after and dug up 
when the lagoons and streams are nearly dry, 
in the cool season, when they are out of 
flower. Species of jYelumbiums also afford a 
valuable supply of food in their seeds ; and 
