494 



ZONES AND REGIONS [Pt. Ill, Sect. II 



Argentina, as for instance in the province of Tucuman, as well as in the 

 north-east. In Tucuman, the ' Cebil '-forest, almost exclusively formed of 

 Acacia Cebil, belongs to this type ; at most Caesalpinia melanocarpa also 

 occurs as a subordinate species. The ground is covered by a grassy sward 

 composed of narrow-leaved species, in the intervals between which various 

 dicotyledonous herbaceous perennials, in particular species of Solidago and 

 Plantago scandens, as well as some shrubs have established themselves. 



The most extensive and peculiar of all savannah-forests is the Eucalyptus- 

 forest, which clothes the greater part of the coasts of Australia, from South 

 Australia to Queensland, and which also occurs in Tasmania. This forest, 



Fig. 257. Gouiliea decorticans. A tree of the Argentine thorn-forest (espinal-formation). 

 After Taubert, in Engler und Prantl, Die natiirlichen Pflanzenfamilien. 



though it differs to some extent, from ordinary savannah-forest, for instance, 

 frequently though not always, in the greater height of its trees and in its 

 evergreen foliage, does not differ in essentials, for instance in the rich growth 

 of grass between the trunks that rise out of the very open wood and in 

 the absence or very feeble development of the underwood. Like other 

 savannah-forests, the Eucalyptus-forest also gradually passes over into 

 savannah (Figs. 260-262). 



One of the most characteristic peculiarities of the Eucalypti (Fig. 259) 

 has been described in a masterly manner by R. Brown. He states : ' The 

 Eucalyptus and leafless Acaciae agree very generally, though belonging 

 to very different families, in a part of their economy which contributes 

 somewhat to the peculiar character of the Australian forests, namely, in 



