18 
the anthers are connivent — their tips being close together — round the 
stigma, while in the latter they are united to, or, as the botanist would 
say, connate around, that organ. For the first order the Allamanda 
may be taken, and the Bedhead (^Aselepias mirassavicd) for the latter. 
There is often a doubt in the minds of some as to which of the 
two prickly Solanums^ so common about Brisbane, the name of Apple 
of Sodom belongs. This may simply be decided even without seeing 
the fruit. Only take a lens and examine the hairs which cover the 
surface of each plant; in one these will be found simple, and in the 
other like little stars. This latter is Solarium sodomccurn^ or the Apple 
of Sodom; the other with simple hairs being Solarium aculeaiissimiim^ 
and bearing the brighter coloured fruit. 
BiaNONiACE^. — Of this order the two genera Bignonia and 
Tecoma are frequently mistaken one for the other by amateur gardeners 
and others, as one may observe from the labelling seen in gartlens, 
and, as many of our showy garden jdants belong to the genera, a few 
of the distinguishing marks may be stated. The Bignonias are usually 
furnished with tendrils, and the partition in the capsule is parallel 
with the valves, or, as it is termed, septicidal ; while the Tecomas have 
no tendrils, and the partition in the capsule is placed in a contrary 
direction — that is to say, transverse with relation to the valves— 
loculicidal. 
I find that persons with some knowledge of plants often get 
confused over three common Queensland plants, two of which are 
naturalised, the other indigenous. I refer to Bioina l<eois and 
Bligtolocca oefandra belonging to the order Phytolaccaceae, and the 
Amarantaceous plant Deeringia cedoBioides. Each bear what are called 
red berries in racemes. The following one or two distinguishing marks 
may assist in identifying one from the other, viz. : — The Bivina has a 
perianth of 4 segments, also 4 stamens, and the fruit is 1-seeded. 
The Bhgtolacca has a perianth of 5 divisions, and usually 8 stamens; 
the berry is composed of eight united carpels. The Deeringia has a 
perianth of 5 segments, 5 stamens shortly united in a ring at the base, 
and several seed in each fruit or berry. 
LAtiBiNE.®. — The leaves of this order are usually alternate, but 
they will be found also nearly or quite opposite, and in the Laurel 
Dodders wanting. The anthers will be found the readiest guide to 
plants ot this order; therefore a description of these organs may here 
be given. They are adnate, with 2 collateral cells or 2 superposed 
pairs of cells, each cell opening in a valve from the base upwards, or 
in the genus Hernandiaj of which our “ Cudgerie” or grease-nut is a 
species, from the inner to the outer side. 
Proteace.®. — Plants of this order have 4 valvate perianth- 
segments, with a stamen inserted upon the inside of each. Some idea 
of the great diversity in the fruit may be gathered when it is pointed 
out that the Geehung, the Queensland Nut, the Silky Oak, and the 
Banlcsia are all members of this family. 
The Spurge Family — Euphorbiace.® — is a very large and im- 
portant order of plants ; but the following are the characteristics of 
the whole: — Ovary 3-celled, rarely 1-2 or several-celled, with 1 or 2 
pendulous ovules in each cell, and as many styles or stigmatic branches 
as cells. Albumen usually copious. This order is largely represented 
