528 



ZONES AND REGIONS [Pt. Ill, Sect. II 



find an extremely rich mixture of types that are, for the most part, quite 

 peculiar and belong to families like the Mimosaceae, Myrtaceae, Proteaceae, 

 Thymelaeaceae, Epacridaceae, Myoporaceae (Figs. 295, 296, 298). Narrow 



Fig. 294. Sclerophyllous flora of Cape Colony. Leucadendron argenteum. Half the natural size. 

 Drawn from nature by R. Anheisser. 



elliptical leaves, similar to those of the olive and oleander, predominate 

 (Fig. 297), but both linear and broader forms occur. 



Unfortunately, we possess only general information regarding sclero- 

 phyllous woodland in West Australia, where it is rich in forms and frequently 

 forest-like. More precise descriptions are available only in reference to the 

 ' scrub ' of South Australia. Schomburgk writes 1 about it as follows: — 



'The regions of the so-called scrub land appear over the whole area of South 

 Australia, extending more or less in the different districts ; but more so in the north 

 and east, occupying about one-eighth of the whole area of the Colony. They form 

 long stretches of desolate arid plains— the soil being of the poorest description, and 



1 Schomburgk, op. cit., p. 9. I have inserted the names of families. 



