ARID PORTIONS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 87 



With other woody species, fairly common, may be included Euca- 

 lyptus incrassata var. dumosa. This has the mallee habit of growth 

 and is also utilized as fuel along with the "oak." In distribution this 

 species frequently, if not usually, occurs to the exclusion of other woody 

 forms, but a spinifex, Triodia irritans, is often associated with it. In 

 case, however, other woody species occur with the mallee, the grass 

 seems to be wanting. As to the habit of the mallee, it has open, 

 canopy-like shoots, of many stems, and thus is easily recognizable 

 from a distance. In addition to this, the most abundant of the genus 

 about Ooldea, there are two others of the genus. Of these, Eucalyptus 

 pyriformis occurs very sparingly between Ooldea and Ooldea Soak, 

 3 miles to the north (plate 21 A). The species is of characteristic 

 mallee form, and bears large flowers and fruits (plate 22A). Accord- 

 ing to Maiden, it is one of the handsomest species of the genus, "be- 

 cause of the large size and showiness of the flowers and the large size 

 and ornamental character or at least grotesqueness of the fruits." 

 The fruits are about 5 cm. in diameter and, occurring in groups, they 

 give a striking appearance to the open shoot. The third species of 

 Eucalyptus seen among the sandhills was a dwarf form, E. leucoxylon 

 var. macrocarpa (plates 21s and 22c). This was seen at Station 408, 

 where it forms a small thicket. It is from 1 to 2 meters high, appar- 

 ently somewhat smaller than is usual for the variety. 



Several woody species were seen only here and there and appeared 

 not to be very common, or at least not to be of very general distribution 

 in the region. Among these may be included Eremophila aUernifolia, 

 which is fairly abundant near Ooldea and also occurs .on flats between 

 the sandy ridges (Black, 1917). The same author also says that 

 Eremophila paisleyi and Pholidia scoparia are to be found about 

 Ooldea. All of these species of Eremophila were seen at Copley, 

 where E. aUernifolia is confined to the banks of washes or to other 

 situations where the water conditions are relatively good. Fusanus 

 acuminatus, the ''native peach," is not uncommon in the sandhills 

 near the camp. Many other species occur scatteringly, several of 

 considerable interest. Of these, Leptospermum Icevigatum var. minus 

 was seen at Ooldea Soak only (plate 22s) . 



As has been mentioned already, Ooldea Soak is a hollow among the 

 sandhills about 3 miles to the north of the camp. There is more than 

 one depression at the place, but all appear much alike. The higher 

 ground carries a very good population of small trees, acacias and mallee, 

 but in the depressions there is very little growth. It is here that in 

 certain hollows, but not in all, the Leptospermum is to be found. The 

 species is confined to such depressions as have potable water and 

 avoids such as have water that is brackish. It is an interesting fact 

 that, although the water-table of the portion of the soak where the 

 Leptospermum grows is little if any over 1 meter deep, and the water 



