■^"s-.l AuDAS, Characteristic Vegetation about Yarram. 7i 



1918 J > o 



Further on we reached the North Devon State school. 

 Calhng on the head-master, Mr. Evans, I was pleased to find 

 that he took a keen interest in wild-flowers, and on learning 

 the nature of my visit he readily (with the children of the 

 school) took advantage of the opportunity to collect some 

 local plants. Upwards of fifty species were gathered during 

 the outing, chief of which was a large blue-flowering orchid, 

 Thelymitra canaliculata. It proved a new addition to the 

 Victorian list, but had been previously recorded from Western 

 Australia. Other orchids collected represented seven species, 

 .among them being Caladenia Pater soni, which was common 

 everywhere on open ground, and presented at least four well- 

 marked varieties in colour and form. C. deformis was seen in 

 colours pink and blue ; Caleana major in rich maroon ; Diuris 

 piinctata, purple ; Thelymitra carnea, red ; T. flexuosa, yellow ; 

 and T. pauciflora, white. The latter has only recently been 

 recorded as new for Victoria. The most interesting among 

 the other plants collected were Hibbertia diffusa, Stylidium 

 graminifolitiM, Sprengelia incarnata, Brachycome scapiformis, 

 RfUidosis pumilio, Helichrysum rosmarinifolium, PultencBa 

 villosa, Lobelia rhombifolia, Lagenophora Billardieri, Cymbonotus 

 Lawsonianus, Microseris Forsteri, Mitrasacme polymorpha, and 

 Wahlenbergia gracilis. The typical form of the latter is generally 

 fifteen or eighteen inches in height, with a blue flower often 

 about half an inch in diameter ; but here a form two inches high, 

 with a minute floweret, was found. 



On the hills further onward the timber became heavier and 

 the undergrowth more luxuriant. Here I noticed for the first 

 time growing in their natural habitat Pittosporum undulattim 

 and Acacia Howittii ; the latter is endemic to Victoria and 

 peculiar to this district. It is a beautiful species, well worthy 

 of cultivation, and, like the former, makes a useful hedge 

 plant. 



As the road approaches the Tarra Valley the signs of practical 

 improvement brought about by the early settlers increase, 

 and the general contour of the country improves. The natural 

 richness of the soil, not only along the hillsides, but right over 

 the tops of the Strzelecki Ranges, proclaims itself by the dense 

 covering of grass. From here to the summit the road winds 

 on hillsides, with the river on one side and hills with giant 

 Mountain Ash on the other. In some places it is hewn out 

 of the rocky cliffs rising sheer from the river. As we ascend 

 we gratefully accept the sitting accommodation provided by 

 a large gum stump to rest awhile, as the atmosphere is close 

 and sultry. From this vantage-point the Christmas Bush, 

 Prostanthera lasianthos, and Tree Lomatia, Lomatia Fraseri, in 

 full bloom, obtruded themselves on our notice, also the dainty 



