PHANEROGAMIC FLORA OE QUEENSLAND. 
393 
IV.— REPRESENTATIVES OF GENERA USUALLY ONLY FOUND IN 
COUNTRIES DISTANT FROM AUSTRALIA. 
Under this head I shall only refer to plants which have been 
brought under our notice during recent years. As the most distant, 
two South American genera may be first noticed — viz., Omphalea and 
Bursera. The first of these, O. queen slanclice, Bail., is a rampant 
climber in the scrubs of the Johnstone and Bussell rivers. It bears 
a large globose fruit, containing from two to four round nuts, which 
abound in oil, and are only eaten by the natives when fresh gathered. 
The second plant, B. ausiralasica, Bail., by some known by the name 
of u carrot- wood,” is a tree of considerable size, met with in the 
Eumundi scrubs. The next most interesting addition to our known 
flora is a species of the Mexican genus, Zinnia, Z. australis , Bail., 
found near the Walsh Biver. 
One need not feel surprised at meeting in Queensland with some 
of the following plants, the only wonder is that they have not been 
found earlier, for some are plants enjoying a wdde range through 
the world, and others are w r ell known in India, or are species of genera 
indigenous to India or countries nearer to Australia. 
Carpesium cernuum , Linn. — A plant met with in several different 
countries; has been found in a few' localities in Southern Queensland. 
When I first published this as indigenous to Queensland, certain 
botanists took exception, for some reason unknown, considering the 
plant as an introduction ; but from the localities in wdiich it has been 
found, there is not the least doubt that it is truly indigenous ; indeed, 
were we to reject this plant then a large number of others would have 
to be eliminated from our flora. 
Ox alls (Biophytum) Apodiscias , Turcz., is another instance of a 
plant which is to be met with in several distant parts of the globe, 
being also indigenous in Queensland, but, so far as at present known, 
confined to one locality — Musgrave, Cape York Peninsula. 
Boehmeria macrostachya , B. Wight. — An Indian shrub ; has so far 
only been met with in Queensland in one locality — viz., a creek 
running from Tambourine Mountain. Here, however, it was found 
some few years ago in great luxuriance. Another instance of a plant 
being found in Queensland which had previously only been known 
from a distant region is the meeting w r ith fine specimens of trees 
which Dr. Bumphins described and figured in Herbarium Amboinensis 
as Cassia fistula , var. silvestris ; for an account of which see my 
Third Botany Bulletin, page 11, where it is given as C . Brewsteri , var. 
sylvestris. 80 far as at present known the only Queensland habitat of 
Uncaria ferrea , DC., is the scrubs bordering the Mulgrave Biver. 
This tall climber, however, is common in India. In passing, I may 
remark that Dr. Thos. L. Bancroft found the leaves of this plant to 
contain “ Gambier” similar to that obtained in India from other 
species of the genus. This Queensland plant should find favour with 
our cultivators for producing the above astringent, which is used in 
tanning and medicine, and, mixed w r ith dammar oil and applied to 
w f ood, is said to preserve it from white ants and dry rot ; thus there 
should be a local demand for the produce. 
The Order Bosaceai is but poorly represented in Australia, and 
its tribe Prunese until recently altogether unrepresented. It is a great 
pleasure, therefore, to the botanist to find amongst the scrub trees at 
