ARID PORTIONS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 101 



tributaries. No attempt will be made to describe the plants of these 

 habitats, all of which, except the high mountains, were visited; but, 

 as previously indicated, only such vegetational features as seemed 

 most interesting will be taken into account, with general reference to 

 the plants as a whole; and the situation of the habitats treated will 

 be located by means of reference to roads going out from the village. 



VEGETATION OF THE VALLEYS AND OF WILLOCHRA PLAIN. 



So far as can be judged from a very superficial view of the Willochra 

 Plain in the vicinity of Quorn, and apart from the streamways passing 

 through it, saltbushes of whatever sort constitute a prominent part 

 of its natural vegetation. There is, however, much grass in places, 

 particularly where the plain extends toward Quorn between the tongues 

 of the low ridges, and as one goes up the valleys from the open plain 

 and they become higher and narrower, the woody flora becomes of 

 increasing importance. 



The leading habitats as given in a preceding paragraph are in the 

 main fairly distinct, but not always so. Where, for example, the 

 plain narrows into the pass on the Port Augusta road, they rise to 

 meet the hills and the three are merged, and in other places the hills 

 may melt insensibly into the valley. Such a place occurs along the 

 Mount Arden road at about 2 or 3 miles north of Quorn. Here the 

 valley is somewhat rolling and there are remains of the original vegetal 

 covering. By the roadside one sees several woody perennials, shrubs 

 largely, of which Templetonia egena is the most numerous. This species 

 occurs generally along the valley floor near Quorn and is very abundant 

 in unused fields. It has a strict habit of growth and is leafless. 



This shrub occurs in fairly loose groups which result from vegetative 

 propagation in the following manner: A portion of the root-system 

 is superficial and from some of the largest of such roots, and at a dis- 

 tance of 50 to 100 cm. from the parent plant they may give rise to 

 shoots. These eventually become independent plants. 



Acacia calamifolia is another roadside shrub. This species has 

 narrow filiform phyllodia, which are fairly numerous and about 7 cm. 

 in length. It occurs in fairly close aggregations, making a small but 

 dense and low scrub mass. An examination of the root-system showed 

 that there are no prominent superficial laterals, as in the last-named 

 species, but that, on the other hand, the main tap-root is prominently 

 developed. The species occurs in unused fields, as well as by the road- 

 sides. Among other species growing near are the following : 



Acacia hakeoides. Cassia eremophila. Helichrysum spiculatum. 



sentis. Cassia sturtii. Senecio anethifolius. 



sublanala. Eutaxia empetrifolia. Templetonia aculeata. 



Bursaria spinosa. Glycine clandestina. 



