BY JAMES STIRLING, F.G.S., F.L.S. 1055 



are themselves so variable, that it is easily conceivable that there 

 has been great differentiation of form over the different areas on 

 which this class of plants flourishes throughout Eastern Australia. 



I do not think that the characters upon which Bentham depends 

 for the determination of generic, and in some cases for specific rank, 

 are so constant as that eminent botanist believed them to be. I 

 have frequently noticed that, even in the same plant, slight morpho- 

 logical differences may be seen ; hence if dried herbarium specimens 

 from different localities were handed to a botanist for critical 

 examination, it is quite possible that minor and unimportant 

 differences might receive marked attention as indicating supposed 

 distinct varieties. I have elsewhere stated that climatic conditions 

 have exerted a dominating influence in the production of varietal 

 forms, i.e., within the range of my limited observation on the 

 flora of the Australian Alps. Further more extensive examina- 

 tions of the geological structure of the area, and the correlated 

 vegetation have confirmed me in this opinion. It remains to be 

 seen whether more extended comparisons with the floras of other 

 alpine areas will either prove or disprove this hypothesis. 



Eriostemon phylicifolius, F. v. M. 



This dwarf shrub, which Bentham has separated from the genus 

 Eriostemon into Phebalium, and described as P. ffhylicifolium, is 

 almost restricted to the higher points of the Australian Alps, as 

 on the quartz porphyries (Devonian) of Mount Cobberas, and the 

 metamorphic schists of portion of Bogong High Plains. The lowest 

 elevation at which I have seen it is on the quartz porphyry near 

 Mount Sisters at 3,000 feet. 



Eriostemon ozothamnoides, F. v. M. 



On the banks of the Mitta Mitta at Hinnomunjee (1,600 feet), 



this shrub attains a height of 12 feet. It ascends, along the margin 



of the western Mitta Mitta tributaries, to elevations of 5,000 feet, 



but becomes stunted, and acquires the habit of E. phylicifolius at 



the higher elevations. This is also included by Bentham in the 



genus Phebalium. 

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