390 
PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 
stature, properties, &e. An extensive territory like Queensland, with a 
seaboard of about 2,500 miles, would lead one to expect a rich and varied 
flora, and such indeed is the case. Pew countries have plants of more 
intrinsic value, whether viewed in an [esthetic or economic sense. 
The fodders are almost innumerable, and include some hundreds of 
kinds of most nutritious grasses. The woods number probably 1,000 
sorts, amongst which are those suitable for all conceivable purposes 
for which this material is used. The barks of many are rich in 
tannin, while the foliage is rich in fragrant oils, which, with the 
exudent gum and resin, have become articles of export. It may be 
here aptly mentioned that within the last few months my friend Dr. Jos. 
Lauterer has found that the young twigs and foliage of Cinnamomum 
Oliver ii yield a good percentage of a camphor identical with that 
obtained from the Chinese tree, Cinnamomum campliora. Pew indeed 
are the plants of our indigenous Flora which may be termed really 
hurtful to stock or dangerous to man. A large number, however, are 
considered by the bushman and country settlers to possess medicinal 
virtues, and some few have been extolled by the medical faculty. In 
food plants and edible fruits also Queensland is not far behind any 
other country ; persons, however, are apt to compare these wild fruits 
with those in cultivation, and overlook the immense amount of time, 
care, and skill which has been bestowed upon our cultivated plants to 
bring them to their present state of perfection. Even in the wild 
state many of the indigenous fruits are of great service to the settlers 
who convert them into excellent jam for home consumption, and 
probably those now in use are inferior to many met with in the 'bush 
far from settlement, and thus only known to travellers through unfre- 
quented parts, such as the scrubs bordering the Northern rivers and 
mountain ranges. The portion of our continent now known as 
Queensland has been a favourite hunting-ground for the botanist 
since Banks and Solander collected along the banks of the Endeavour; 
yet, although much has been done to collect specimens of our plants', 
so rich is the Flora in species that one can but consider that a mere 
skimming of the number has been collected. Persons who do not 
know the country would probably think that most of the important 
plants are known ; such, however, is not the case, for frequentlv 
specimens of new timbers, fruits, and fodder are received, especially 
from the Northern districts. These reach the botanist for determina- 
tion, the people being generally fully aware of the folly of trusting to 
local names alone. 
With these few remarks upon our Flora generally, I will now pass 
on to point out, under separate headings, something of the peculiarities 
of the plants. Besides the many new species which are becoming 
known as the colony is further and more carefully explored, the 
botanist has from time to time to correct or furnish additional matter 
to the descriptions which have been already published. In like 
manner it must be understood that some of our later names and 
descriptions, like those of an earlier date, must be taken as provisional. 
It may be asked, Why name until a full and complete description can 
be published ? The answer is,— That a name, and as full a description 
as possible, becomes at once necessary, to distinguish the plant from 
others, and afford the means of intelligibly communicating one with 
another about it. I will therefore, in the first paragraph, refer to 
