88 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 



warm tropical rains coming from the east north-east 

 along tlie eastern Australian coast reaching the area. 



In the Bendoc district, at an elevation of 2500 feet, severe 

 frosts are not uncommon, and the range of temperature is 

 frequently gi-eat. The snow falls annually over this area, 

 but in the upper valleys of the Broadribb, Bemm, and Cann 

 humidity prevails, and the temperature is more equable, 

 frosts being far less frequent. This difference in the hygro- 

 metric and thermometric conditions produces tlie differences 

 observed in tlie vegetation at similar elevations north and 

 south of the coast range. And this is again very marked 

 as the coast line is reached, so that the meteorologic condi- 

 tions affect the vegetation directly. And the latter are 

 mainly due to the varied surface configuration, resulting 

 from the unequal decay of the different rock masses. 



BOTANY. 



Notes on the Vegetation (Peculiar Features) 



The most striking feature in the vegetation of the areas 

 examined in Croajingolong is the presence of many East 

 Australian types not found elsewhere in Victoria, and in tlie 

 luxuriance of the climbing plants The arboreous form of 

 the Waratah (Telopea oreades) with its magnificent 

 clustei's of rich carmine-tinted flowers on terminal spikelets, 

 surrounded by glossy sap-gieen leaves, at oncearreststhe atten- 

 tion of the botanical observer. Flowering during October 

 and early in November it attains in the rich humid valleys 

 surrounding the M'Oulloch Ranges, the heads of Cabbage-tree 

 Creek, and in the upper portions of the Bemm valley— along 

 the coast range, &c., a height of between 40 and 50 feet. 



Next to the Waratah, the profusely llowering native 

 clindnng pea (Kennedya rubicunda) is, with its brick-red 

 blossoms, one of the most striking features, and is widely 

 distributed over the area. In localities where it flourishes 

 along with the native virgin's bower (Clematis aristata) and 

 the native sarsaparilla (Kennedya monophylla), the 

 contrasts of red, white, and blue, are most charming. 

 Although in those places where it is interwoven with the 

 wire yrass (Ehrharta stipoides). it is the bete noire of the 

 prospector or explorer. Even the dreaded thorns of the 

 climbing lawyer (Smilax Australis) are less objection- 



