49 6 



ZONES AND REGIONS [Pt. Ill, Sect. II 



Schomburgk l also gives the following description of the Eucalyptus- 

 forest in South Australia : — 



'The region of the forest land in South Australia occupies mostly the mountainous 

 districts, and extending along the base of the mountain chains. The forests have not 

 the fullness and lofty growth of those of other countries. The underwood is of 

 a medium size, more open and less difficult to penetrate ; the forests are of less 

 extent and are intercepted by tracts of grass land. The Eucalypts are the most 

 predominant forest trees— the stringybark forming often whole forests in some 

 mountainous districts, but seldom seen on the plains. Eucalyptus paniculata, Sw. ; 



Fig. 259. Eucalyptus globulus. Two-fifths of natural size. From a photograph. 



E. viminalis, Labil. ; E. rostrata, Schlecht ; E. odorata, Behr, are the most prevalent 

 species. 



' The trees of the forest do not appear crowded, and seldom do the branches of 

 a tree reach those of a neighbouring one. The declivities of the mountain ranges 

 are for the most part similarly timbered, the trees sometimes extending to the 

 summits, often only half or two-thirds of the remaining part being grassed, here 

 and there with copses of low growing shrubs, and stunted and much ramified 

 trees ; often the whole declivities are grassed without even a shrub or tree. 



1 Schomburgk, op. cit., p. 7. I have supplied the names of the families. 



