45 
yielding Food for Man . 
and eaten by the Aborigines : in taste they resemble beet¬ 
root ; and are sometimes called, in the Colony, “ native 
potatoes/’ 
The genera Pterostylis , Caladenia , Microtis , Praso - 
phyllum , Diuris , Thelymitra , &c. also bear small bulbs, 
and are generally diffused over the open and thinly- 
wooded parts of the Colony. 
Nat. Ord. Asphodeleje. Asphodel family. 
Xanthorrhcea arborea. Grass Tree. 
Mr. Backhouse observes— c< The base of the inner 
leaves of the grass-tree- are not to be despised by the 
hungry. The Aborigines beat off the heads of these 
singular plants by striking them about the top of the 
trunk with a large stick ; then they stript off the outer 
leaves and cut away the inner ones, leaving about an 
inch and a half of the white tender portion joining the 
trunk : this portion they ate raw or roasted ; and it is far 
from disagreeable in flavour, having a nutty taste, slightly 
balsamic. • 
“ There are some other species of grass-tree in the 
Colony, the base of the leaves of which also maybe used 
as food: those of the dwarf grass-tree (Xanthorrhcea 
humilis ), so abundant about York Town, may be obtained 
by twisting the inner leaves firmly together and pulling 
them forcibly upwards ; but care is required not to cut 
the fingers by slipping the hand.” 
The different species of Xanthorrhcea are only found 
on the poorest land, and usually in quartzose sand, in 
very open situations. 
Astelia Alpina. 
This is a plant forming large patches on the summits 
of the mountains, with light green silky leaves springing 
from the root, and covered underneath with a white down 
The fruit is red, of a sweet taste, growing in the centre 
of each plant, and about the size of a large pea. 
