l66 AuDAs; A Botainsi in the Portland District. rvj['xx^''ni 



Bilhirdicri, var. parvifioni. Brachycomc scapigera. Lcucopogon 



criciiiiiics. L. glacudis (jK'culiar to tlie south-west). StackJionsia 



fiavii. Melaleuca squamea, Stypandni cwspitosa, Bossicra 



pyostrnia, and Diatiella revolitta — a beautiful liliaceous i)lant 



witli dark blue Uowers and yellow stamens— made a gay scene. 



Proceeding through the scrub, my attention was arrested by 



what seemed at first glance to be a very handsome j)inc, but on 



closer examination it proved to be a leguminous shrub, 



Psorahca pinnala — an introduction from South Africa. It is 



known locally as " Basby's pest." A gentleman named Basby 



is said to haw introduced it to the district, and it has now 



become a troublesome plant and is sj)reading ra])idly. Pinus 



mmicala. introduced from California, is also spreading and 



occupying large patches of scrub-land. Terrestrial orchids were 



rather plentiful. 1 came ujion large quantities of Ccdadenia 



Menzicsii. C. carnea, C. latifolia, C. congcsia. C. deformis, and 



C. Palersoni ; the latter is a variable species, and no less than 



six well-marked varieties in colour and form were seen. 



Lypcranthus nigricans, one of our linest native orchids, with 



its large reddish-brown and whitish-strijied flowers, was 



blooming. A peculiarity of this orchid is that a plant with 



a very large basal leaf seldom or rarely flowers. In shelter of 



small trees and shrubs, Calcana major. Cyrtostylis reniforviis. 



Calvchiliis Robcrtsoni. Ptcrostylis curia, P. nutans. P. nana. 



P. concinna, and P. longifolia were met with, the labelliuTi or 



lij) of the latter being so sensitive that on the slightest touch 



it instantly closes. Here, in sandy soil, a host of interesting 



})lants were seen, with their coloiu's charmingly blended and 



vying with each other in beauty. The handsome Euphrasia 



collina. with beautiful purple blooms. Hibbertia densifiora and 



H. slricia. with large yellow blossoms, the blue flowers of 



Paicrsonia glauca and Chanucscilla corymbosa. the white-flowered 



llclichrxsum Baxleri. and the sensitive Stylidium graminifoliuin. 



with tail spikes of i)inkish llowcrs (attaining a height of twelve 



to eighteen inches), were the most conspicuous : whik- the 



runner Keniu'dy<i prostrata. which glories in tl\e sunlight. carj)eted 



the open heath ground with a blaze of brilliant scarlet. 



Following the coast to the south and west of Portland, 

 nimierous little coves with secluded stretches of sand, greatly 

 availed of by picnic i)arties, are passed. Here, in open 

 situations, Oxalis cornicrilata covered many square yards of 

 rock surface, and Bulbine semibarbata. the Smaller Yellow Lily, 

 tisually of rather spindly growth. de\i'lo])ed into the proj>or- 

 tion and appearance of a robust leek. Fine specimens were 

 found far out on the exjjosed rocks, in company with Mesembry- 

 anthentum ausirale. Rounded Pig-face, which had also acquired 

 an increased fleshy growth from the salt spray. Passing 



