THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 169 
sand-dune two weedy members of the same family 
(Serophularineae), introduced from 'Hurope, were seen, 
Verbascum blatlaraa, *‘Mullein,’’ and V. thapsus, the 
latter with heavy woolly leaves, which are responsible for 
its vernacular name, ‘‘Beggars’ Blankets.’’ The ‘‘ Russian 
Thistle,’’? Salsola kal, with prickly stems and star-like 
flowers, which are embedded in the succulent branches, 
was plentiful on the inner beaches, and numerous tus- 
socks of Cenchrus australis, “Burr Grass,’’ lined the slop- 
ing banks of one of the arms of Port Hacking. 
A. A. HAMILTON. 
SOME USEFUL PLANTS. 
By E. Cheel. 
(Eleusine coracana.) 
Some few months ago I received from Mr. B. Harri- 
son, of Burringbar, some seed labelled ‘‘Wimbi,’’ the 
native food of the Lumbras and Nandys, British Hast 
Africa. ane seed is round, and somewhat resembles mus- 
tard-seed, except that it is of a brownish colour, and 
minutely rough. As I was unable to trace the name 
““Wimbi,’’ I sowed a few seed in November last, and was 
greatly surprised to find that it belonged to the grass 
family, and as one of the plants has now flowered, I have 
been able to determine it, and find that it belongs to the 
genus Hleusine, and is known in botanical literature under 
the name Hleusine coracana. 
It transpires that this species of grass is a very im- 
portant food-plant in India, and according to J. CG. Lisboa, 
is known under several vernacular names, including 
“Natchni,”’ “‘Nagli,”’ ‘‘Raggi,’’? ‘‘Mandha,’”’ ‘‘Mandhua,’’ 
‘““Maruya,’’ “‘ Marua,’’ ‘‘Modua,”’ ‘‘Mandol,’’ ‘‘Cholodra,”’ 
“TWoda,’’ and “‘Kurakan.’’ He further states that it is 
extensively cultivated in the plains. and lower districts 
more than 20 miles inland in India. It is transplanted and 
weeded like rice. It may be grown almost over stones and 
gravel; but when sown over a rich soil, the return is enor- 
mous in proportion to the area. It yields from five to six 
maunds (a weight of about 80 Ibs., in the Hast Indies) 
of seed per acre upon the hills, and 12 to 14 maunds in 
