58 
This is the so-called " New Zealand spinach," a native of our coasts and 
farther inland. 
Xylomelum (Proteacese). 
The leaf of X. pyriforme (Knight) contains saponin. (p. 418.) 
This is our native pear. 
Attention may be invited to an important paper by G. Masson,* in which he 
draws attention to the unsatisfactory state of the literature concerning Saponins, 
and he gives the name of " Saponoides " (Saponoids) to certain pseudo-saponins to 
which he refers. All these substances were hitherto classified as Saponins. 
He gives his chemical results in regard to a number of substances yielding 
Saponin ; he does not deal with many. None are of Australian plants, though 
Lychnis Oithago L. has invaded our wheat-fields. 
The only Australian writer on the Saponins, as far as I know, was the late 
Dr. Lauterer.f of Brisbane, who published a useful preliminary paper. 
The following references from my " Useful Native Plants of Australia" 
(18S9) may be taken for what they are worth. The active principle of some of the 
plants at least is a saponin. 
(1.) Avicennia officinalis'L. (Verbenaceae). "Mangrove." The ashes of this 
tree are used in the manufacture of soap. This plant is not endemic in Australia. 
In salt-water estuaries entirely round the coast. 
(2.) Cassytha filiformis L. (Lauracese). A "Dodder Laurel." Crushed 
with gingelly oil, this plant is used in India as a head wash for strengthening the 
hair. Queensland and Northern Australia. 
(3.) Colubrina asiatica Brongn. (B/hamnacese). The natives of Fiji use the 
leaves of this shrub for washing their hair, to clean it, and to destroy the vermin 
(Seemann). (Queensland and Northern Australia. 
(4.) Entada scandens Benth. (Leguminosse). " Queensland Bean," " Leich- 
hardt Bean." The kernels are used by the Nepalese for washing their hair, and in 
Bengal by washermen for crimping linen. (Gamble, Manual of Indian Timbers.) 
Queensland. 
(5.) Fitis saponaria Seem. (Ampelideee). The natives of Fiji used this 
creeper for washing their hair to destroy the vermin. The stem, especially the 
thicker part, is cut in pieces from a foot to eighteen inches long, cooked on hot 
stones, and when thus rendered quite soft it produces, in water, a rich lather, 
almost equal to that of soap. (Seemann.) Queensland. 
* " Recherches sur quelques plantcg asaponine." Scale Sup. tie Pharm. Paris, 1910. 
t Occurrence of Saponin in Australian Acacias and Albizzias." (Prof. Hoy. Sor. Qid., xii, p. 103.) 
