PHANEROGAMIC FLORA OF QUEENSLAND. 
403 
P. commune , F. v. M. The names discarded by these two botanists— 
viz., pallidum , purpurascens , gracile , coerulescens , Jlavescens , and 
virens — would have admirably suited for the names* of the several 
varieties met with in Queensland ; and doubtless when our grasses 
are collected and brought under cultivation, such will be brought into 
use again as distinctive names for these varieties or forms. 
IX.— PLANTS RECENTLY FOUND TO CONTAIN HIGHLY POISONOUS 
PROPERTIES. 
In my remarks in the opening part of this paper, I said that our 
Flora contained but few plants of a hurtful or dangerous character; 
and although such is true, yet amongst the plants are found some 
possessing powerful active principles which have been proved highly 
poisonous.^ Some, indeed, are stated by my friend, Dr. Thomas L. 
Bancroft, in papers read at meetings of various societies, to equal in 
virulence tlmt of the most deadly of vegetable toxicants. This gentle- 
man has for some years past paid particular attention to the properties 
of Queensland plants, and 1 shall be content in this paragraph to 
mention some of our plants which he has found to possess poisonous 
properties which, it would seem, were previously unknown to have 
toxic properties. 
Stephania liernandimfolia , Whip., and S. aciileata , Bail. An extract 
of the roots of these, he says, is extremely poisonous; and he found 
tiat the root bark of Cocculus Aloorei , F, v. M., and Sarcopetalum 
Harvey anum> 1. v. M\, also contained active poisonous principles. 
Carissa ovata , var. siolonifera , Bail. The bark of this form he 
found to possess highly poisonous properties. 
Marlea vitiensis, Benth. Extract of the bark is described as 
poisonous. 
Zanthoxylmi veneficum , Bail. This contains a poisonous principle 
equal in strength, and somewhat similar in action, to strychnine. 
Melicope erythrococca , Benth., contains a somewhat similar poisonous 
principle which the doctor terms a protoplasmic poison. 
Flindersia Schotiiana ', h. v. M. The bark of this tree contains 
a poisonous principle. 
Daphnandra micraniha, Benth. ; 1 Xrepandula, F. v. M. ; and D. 
a') omc/tica, Bail. Each contains in the bark highly poisonous properties. 
Cryptocarya australis, Benth., and C. triplinervis , R. Br., also 
contain in their barks an alkaloid of great potency as a poison which 
m its action resembles Curara. 
X.— NODULES. 
These curious wood formations, which are known to form in the 
bark of the olive and other European trees, have so far in Queens- 
land been met with in the bark of few trees. The Bunya Pine 
Araucaria Bidivillii , Hook., produces them, and, as may be supposed in 
a tree with a bark from G inches to IS inches thick, they attain a great 
size. The nodule wood takes a high polish, and is very beautiful both 
in figure and colouiing, and should command a high price for veneerino- 
work. Araucaria Cunninyhamii , Ait., is also said to furnish them a's 
large as cricket balls ; these, however, I have not seen. They are very 
numerous in the bark of Cinnamomum Oliverii , Bail., attaining a 
diameter of 2 inches or 3 inches. ° 
