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

[Title of short article giving an account of an old lady during the bank panic concealing her money in the ground and being unable to find it.]

<hw>Plantain, Native</hw>, an Australian fodder plant, <i>Plantago varia</i>, R. Br., <i>N.O. Plantagineae</i>.

<hw>Plant-Caterpillar</hw>, <i>n</i>. name given in Australasia to species of caterpillars which are attacked by spores of certain fungi; when chrysalating in the earth the fungus grows inside the body of the caterpillar, kills the latter, and then forces its way out between the head joints, and sends an upgrowth which projects beyond the surface of the ground and gives rise to fresh spores. Many examples are known, of which the more common are—<i>Cordyceps robertsii</i>, Hook., in New Zealand; <i>Cordyceps gunnii</i>, Berk, in Tasmania; <i>Cordyceps taylori</i>, Berk, in Australia. See <i>Aweto</i>.

1892. M. C. Cooke, `Vegetable Wasps and Plant Worms,' p. 139:

"The New Zealanders' name for this plant-caterpillar is `Hotete,' `Aweto,' `Weri,' and `Anuhe.'. . The interior of the insect becomes completely filled by the inner plant, orthallus (mycelium): after which the growing head of the outer plant or fungus, passing to a state of maturity, usually forces its way out through the tissue of the joint between the head and the first segment of the thorax . . . it is stated that this caterpillar settles head upward to undergo its change, when the vegetable developes /sic/ itself."

<hw>Planter</hw>, <i>n</i>. a cattle-thief, so called from hiding the stolen cattle.

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Colonial Reformer,' c. xxv. p. 352:

"What's a little money . . . if your children grow up duffers [sc. cattle-duffers, q.v.] and planters?"

<hw>Platycercus</hw>, <i>n</i>. scientific name of a genus of Parrakeets, represented by many species. The word is from the shape of the tail. (Grk. <i>platus</i>, broad, and <i>kerkos</i>, tail.) The genus is distributed from the Malay Archipelago to the Islands of the Pacific. The name was first given by Vigors and Horsfield in 1825.

See <i>Parrakeet</i> and <i>Rosella</i>.