specimen, imperfect in its
leaves and stem, but sufficiently complete in its parts of
fructification, differs materially in habit from the original species, N.
alopeuroides, as well as from N. Mitchelliana of Nees, while these two
species differ widely from each other in several important points of
structure.

* * * * *

In undertaking to give some account of the more remarkable plants of
Captain Sturt's collection, it was my intention to have entered in some
detail into the general character of the vegetation of the interior of
Australia, south of the Tropic.

I am now obliged to relinquish my original intention, so far as relates
to detail, but shall still offer a few general remarks on the subject.

These remarks will probably be better understood, if I refer, in the
first place, to some observations published in 1814, in the Botanical
Appendix to Captain Flinders's Voyage.

From the knowledge I then had of New Holland, or Australian vegetation, I
stated that its chief peculiarities existed in the greatest degree in a
parallel, included between 33 degrees and 35 degrees S. lat. which I
therefore called the principal parallel, but that these peculiarities or
characteristic tribes, were found chiefly at its western and eastern
extremities, being remarkably diminished in that intermediate portion,
included between 133 degrees and 138 degrees, E. long. These observations
related entirely to the shores of Australia, its interior, being at that
period altogether unknown; and the species of Australian plants, with
which I was then acquainted, did not exceed 4200. Since that time great
additions have been made to the number, chiefly by Mr. Allan Cunningham,
in his various journeys from Port Jackson, and on the shores of the North
and North-west coasts during the voyages of Captain King whom he
accompanied; by Messrs. William Baxter, James Drummond, and M. Preiss, at
the western extremity of the principal parallel, and by Mr. Ronald Gunn
in Van Diemen's Land. It is probable that I may be considered as
underrating these additions, when I venture to state them as only between
two and three thousand; and that the whole number of Australian plants at
present known, does not exceed, but rather falls short of 7000 species.

These additions, whatever their amount may be, confirm my original
statement respecting the distribution of the characteristic tribes of the
New Holland Flora; some additional breadth might perhaps be give