1 Fes., 1898. ] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 131 
again at a little more than half-way up, tapering thence to long, fine points ; 
a bristle in the lower, but seldom in the upper forks. © Inflorescence an 
elongated panicle. The one received from Mr. Jardine was 7 ft. long, base 
of common peduncle 2 in. broad, and as well as the secondary peduncies flat 
on the one side and rounded on the other. Bracts closely sheathing, obtuse at 
the end, branches 8, forked towards ‘the extremities, and bearing numerous 
flexuose slender spikes of fruits (no flowers seen). Fruits on the specimen to 
hand not mature, pyriform or oblong-ovate, 4 or 5 lines long, pericarp 
smooth. 
Hab. : Somerset, Cape York Peninsula, Frank L. Jardine. I place this and a palmate- 
leaved palm from Cairns as varieties of Dr. Robt. Brown’s Livistona humilis for the present ; but 
hope to have full and complete material for a more satisfactory arrangement when working up the 
order for my work now in hand on the Queensland Flora. 
PLANTS REPUTED POISONOUS To STOCK. 
By F. MANSON BAILEY, F.L.S., 
Colonial Botanis*. 
Orprer CYCADACEAE, 
Tue plants of this order are all considered to possess more or less of a 
poisonous principle, which becomes inert or expelled by heat. Several of 
these plants in other countries yield nutritious food products, and the Aus- 
tralian species are known to be used by the Queensland and other Australian 
aborigines for food after undergoing a careful preparation. The handsomest 
of the Australian kinds are met with in Queensland ; and if fruits of these, 
correct to name, could be obtained and forwarded to Europe, they would fetch 
a good price from the nurserymen. It is not, however, from this view of the 
subject that we at present have to deal. One, if not more, species is reported 
as dangerous to stock when they browse upon the plants. The species con- 
sidered in Queensland the most hurtful and to produce “ rickets” is Aacrozamia 
Miquelii. ‘As, however, there seems to exist a somewhat confused idea, even 
amongst some stockmen, as to the genera, I will try and put the subject in as 
brief and plain a manner as possible. The representatives of the order in 
Queensland are 4 Cycas, 8 Macrozamia, 2 Bowenia. 
Three of the Cycas are purely tropical, the other (C. media) alone being 
met with south of Rockhampton. 
Most Prominent Characters of the Genus Cycas.—Stems cylindrical, 
sometimes forked; some species tall. Leaves simply pinnate, pinne (leaflets) 
linear, with a prominent midrib, Male cones oblong or globular, the scales 
cuneate (wedge-shaped), hard, the thickened apex more or less produced into a 
straight or recurved point. . Female cones at first globular, but opening out 
by the growth of the central shoot; the scales elongated, tomentose, or woolly, 
flat, bearing on each margin 2 to 4 ovules, in distant notches; the apex of the 
seale dilated, acuminate, and more or less deeply toothed; the seales are at 
first loosely imbricate, at length spreading or pendulous among or from the 
growth of the plant below the leaves, retaining often for a considerable time 
the rather large globular or oval fruits. 
Of the eight species of Queensland Macrozamia, M. Miquelii—the one 
mostly accused of injuring stock—is most abundant in the Leichhardt district, 
but is not confined to that locality, for we find plants of it on the ranges near 
Brisbane. It seldom forms any stem above the ground, and the bases of the 
leaf-stalks are more or less densely covered with a loose wool, which has been 
found useful for stuffing pillows. 22. mountperriensis resembles in many 
K 
