ON THE FLORA OF AUSTRALIA, 
91 
(Thysanotus spp.) speedily arrest the attention of even the most 
casual observer by their exquisite beauty. It is difficult to say 
which is the more admirable, their delicate tints or the fairy¬ 
like fringe from which these plants derive their generic and 
popular names. The “ Queensland or Spear-lilies” ( Dory- 
anthes spp.) are strictly amaryllidaceous plants of huge size. 
They produce an excellent fibre. The Butacecc are represented 
by about 200 species. The native Fuchsias ( Correa spp.) are 
handsome flowering shrubs. Eriostemon and Boronia are the 
largest genera, each possessing many horticultural desiderata. 
Boronia megastigma from Western Australia produces copiously 
its sombre-looking but exquisitely fragrant blossoms. Dried 
specimens in the herbarium will continue for years to emit this 
delicious perfume. Several other plants of this genus are of 
rich beauty. 
Ficus macrophylla, the “ Moreton Bay Fig,” may be chosen 
to represent the genus Ficus , which includes some twoscore 
native species. It grows into a stately tree and produces large, 
handsome, glossy leaves. Another representative of the order 
Urticacecc, the “ Tree-nettle ” ( Laportea gigas ), has already been 
referred to. The sting of this nettle causes such severe pain as 
to actually drive cattle mad when they inadvertently brush 
against the branches. 
Epacrids of delicate and almost inconceivable beauty cover 
immense areas. They are locally known as “ Native Heaths.” 
They are allied to the true Heaths (Ericacece), which outwardly 
they somewhat resemble, but differ in structure and dehiscence 
of anthers. A by no means uncommon, but never-to-be 
forgotten, sight is an extensive tract, called a “lieathbed,” 
covered with these beautiful plants in full bloom and exhibiting 
the richest as well as the most delicate tints. The genus 
Styphelia is the richest in species. Several plants of this 
order ( Epacridecc) possess more than ordinary horticultural 
merit, but many of them seem averse to artificial culture—a 
characteristic which they share with many other desirable native 
plants. Epacris imprcssa is a striking feature among our indi¬ 
genous vegetation. Its brilliant and copiously borne blossoms 
and the vast numbers of individual plants render it exceedingly 
noticeable and attractive in many an Australian scene. It 
exhibits great variation in colour, from purest white to brilliant 
