all the species of Swainsonia, N.O. Leguminosae, are called «NativeIndigos.» See Indigo-plant. In Tasmania, the NativeIndigo is Indigofera australis, Willd., N.O. Leguminosae. The plants are also called Indigo-plant and Darling-pea (q.v.). Swainsonia belongs to the same N.O. as Indigoferatinctoria, which furnishes the Indigo of commerce.
1826. J. Atkinson, `Agriculture and Grazing in New SouthWales,' p. 24:
«Indigo brushes are not very common; the timber in these isgenerally white or blackbutted gum; the ground beneath iscovered with the native indigo, a very beautiful plant,with a light purple flower.»
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 140:
«The `darling-pea' or `indigo-plant' is a dreaded plant fromthe great amount of loss it has inflicted on stockowners. Itseffect on sheep is well known; they separate from the flock,wander about listlessly, and are known to the shepherds as `pea-eaters,' or `indigo-eaters.' When once a sheep takes toeating this plant it seldom or never fattens, and may be saidto be lost to its owner. The late Mr. Charles Thorn, ofQueensland, placed a lamb which had become an `indigo-eater' ina small paddock, where it refused to eat grass. It, however,ate the indigo plant greedily, and followed Mr. Thorn all overthe paddock for some indigo he held in his hand.»