THE SOUTH TEMPERATE ZONE 



329 



of the foliage of most of the desert shrubs. Showy flowers wen- n< »t 

 abundant, but here and there masses of pink and white everla 

 ings were seen, and the splendid scarlet flowered "Sturt-pea," 

 (Clianthus Dampieri), is abundant in some localities. 



As the west coast is approached the country becomes less arid, 

 and presently the increasing moisture is evident in the more luxuri- 

 ant vegetation and the profusion of showy flowers which in the 

 spring adorn the country. The train passes through a veritable 

 garden of brilliant bloom. The variety and beauty of this floral 



F IG# 89.— Coastal vegetation, Perth, West Australia. 



calophylla), Banksia grandis. 



Red gum (Eucalyptus 



show must be seen to be appreciated. While some of the flowers, 

 especially the many Papilionaceae and lilies, seem more or less 

 familiar, most of them are quite strange to the northern botanist, 

 many belonging to families entirely wanting in the northern hemi- 

 sphere. The family Goodeniaceae includes many species of yell* m 

 Goodenia, and blue Dampiera and Leschenaultia, one of the latter, 

 L. formosa of a blue so magnificent, that once seen, can never be 



forgotten. 



Ground orchids are remarkably abundant in West Australia, 

 mostly characteristic Australian genera, e. g., Caladenia, Diuris, 

 Thelymitra, and others quite si range to the European or American 

 botanist. Many of these are very beautiful. Another striking 



