3G Vegetable Productions 
These, as also a few other plants of this well-known 
family, might be eaten like the common cress; although 
generally, when in a wild state, or not growing luxuriantly, 
they are slightly acrid. 
Nat. Ord. Pittosporeje. Pittosporum family. 
Genus, Billardiera . Apple Berry. 
_B. mutabilis has a green cylindrical fruit, becoming 
of a lighter green or amber colour when ripe, possess¬ 
ing a pleasant sub-acid taste ; but the seeds are numerous 
and hard. 
This species is common about Launceston, growing 
among stones in dry places ; and I saw it very abund¬ 
ant on Flinder’s Island. The fruit drops off' imme¬ 
diately on becoming ripe, and must usually be picked 
off the ground ; but it does not bear in sufficient quantity 
to be useful. 
Nat. Ord. Gbramiacejs. Geranium family. 
Geraniumparviflorum. Small-flowered Geranium. 
I include this plant in my list, as I have been informed 
that the Aborigines were in the habit of digging up its 
roots, which are large and fleshy, and roasting them for 
food. It was called about Launceston ‘‘native carrot.” 
This species is very widely distributed over the Colony, 
and usually found in light loamy soil. 
Nat. Ord. Oxalide/e. Wood-sorrel family. 
Oxalis microphylla. Small-leaved Wood-sorrel. 
“ This little plant, which displays its lively yellow blos¬ 
soms on almost every grassy spot in the Colony, and has 
acid leaves in form resembling the leaves of clover, is 
very pleasant eaten raw to allay thirst; and made into 
tarts it is almost equal to the barberry.” 
O. lac tea, a white flowering species, is found about 
the Hampshire and Surrey Hills, and western parts of the 
Colony; but is too sparingly distributed to be generally 
serviceable, like the preceding species. 
