THE SOUTH TEMPERATE ZONE 



331 



with numerous species of Leptospermum, Melaleuca and Cal- 

 listemon, and many others less common. 



The only gymnosperm seen by the writer in Western Australia 

 was a cycad, Macrozamia Fraseri, which was very common and 

 a serious pest, as animals are often poisoned by eating the young 

 foliage in times of drought. 



Especially abundant in West Australia, but found also in the 





-< 7" 



*■{*$- 



->. 



Fig. 91. — Cycad {Macrozamia Fraseri), West Australia. Phuto., courtesy of 



Mr. C. E. Lane-Poole. 



other states, are the " grass-trees " (Xanthorrhoca), striking if 

 not beautiful features of the vegetation. The larger species have 

 a stout trunk and recall in habit the tree- Yuccas of Southern 

 California and Mexico; but the numerous drooping leaves are 

 much more slender and the innumerable flowers, borne on a tall 

 club-like spike, are insignificant and quite lacking in the beauty of 

 the Yucca. 



Throughout the less arid parts of West Australia, the spring 

 display of flowers from August to November, is quite unrivalled 

 elsewhere, and perhaps culminates in the Albany district, to which 

 are confined many species, among them the curious pitcher plant, 



