Austral English / A dictionary of Australasian words, phrases and usages with those aboriginal-Australian and Maori words which have become incorporated in the language, and the commoner scientific words that have had their origin in Australasia

by Edward Ellis Morris

"The market of Hobart Town is supplied with small rock cod, flatheads, and a fish called the perch."

<hw>Flat Pea</hw>, <i>n.</i> a genus of Australian flowering plants, <i>Platylobium</i>, <i>N.O. Leguminosae</i>.

1793. `Transactions of Linnaean Society,' vol. ii. p. 350:

"Its name I have deduced from <i>platus</i>, broad, and <i>lobos</i>, a pod."

"P. formosum. Orange flat-pea . . . A figure of this . . . will soon be given in the work I have undertaken on the botany of New Holland."

[The figure referred to will be found at p. 17 of the `Specimen of the Botany of New Holland.']

<hw>Flax, Native</hw>, <i>n.</i> The European flax is <i>Linum usitatissimum</i>, <i>N.O. Liniae</i>. There is a species in Australia, <i>Linum marginale</i>, Cunn., <i>N.O. Linaceae</i>, called <i>Native Flax</i>. In New Zealand, the <i>Phormium</i> is called <i>Native Flax</i>. See next word.

1889. J. M. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 626:

"`Native flax.' Although a smaller plant than the true flax, this plant yields fibre of excellent quality. It is used by the blacks for making fishing-nets and cordage."

<hw>Flax, New Zealand</hw>, <i>n</i>. <i>Phormium tenax</i>, <i>N.O. Liliaceae</i>. A plant yielding a strong fibre. Called also, in New Zealand, <i>Native Flax</i>, and <i>Flax Lily</i>.