THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, 



The Native Pepper, Drimys aromatica, F. v. M., and 

 Persoonia arhorea, F. v. M., were obtained as fruit specimens. 

 Presently we were attracted by the bushes of Helichrysum stir- 

 lingii, F. v. M., bearing their corymbs of pure white flowers — a 

 really handsome shrub, but its viscid leaves make it an awkward 

 plant for the collector. Helichrysum rosma7'inifolium, Less., was 

 also an attractive shrub, laden with masses of small white flowers, 

 densely crowded into compound corymbs like so many miniature 

 snowballs. Near here specimens of Gaultiera hispida, R. Br., 

 one of our only two representatives of the true heaths (Ericaceae) 

 was obtained in fruit ; these when ripe are snowy-white. Now 

 the hillside was covered with Veronica derwentia, Little, inter- 

 spersed with Pimelea linifolia, Smith, both in full bloom, while 

 another white-flowered shrub, Aster megalophyllus, F. v. M., was 

 also very attractive. Presently the splendid orange pea-shaped 

 flowers of Oxylobium alpestre, F. v. M., were very prominent 

 amongst the vegetation lining the road. The Blue-bell, Wahlen- 

 hergia gracilis, D. C, was abundant, but much larger and of a 

 deeper blue than in the lower country. The flowers of the 

 Trigger Plant, Candollea {Stylidiuia) serridata, Lab., were of the 

 deepest shade of pink — in fact, they might have been termed 

 crimson. Down in the valley towards the Ovens an occasional 

 tree fern, Alsophila australis, R. Br., could be seen rearing its 

 head above the undergrowth, while in the road cuttings Aspidium 

 actoleatum, Swartz, was the dominant fern, only a few Lnmaria 

 discolor, Willd., being present. 



The scenery as we ascended was very fine. The road is cut 

 along the eastern side of the range, which runs almost due north 

 and south. Far down in the valley was the Ovens, while on the 

 other side about four miles away is another parallel ridge 

 known as the " Razorback," connecting Mounts Feathertop and 

 Hotham, both of which were now in view, but considerably 

 higher. Presently, from the end of a spur jutting out somewhat 

 further than usual, we got our first glimpse of Mount St. Bernard, 

 our destination for the day, but still some miles away. Goodenia 

 hederacea, Smith, with deep orange flowers, is noticed trailing 

 over the rocks, and ArtJbrojiodinm panictdatum, R. Br., with pale 

 lilac flowers, is added to our list. The eucalypts met with have 

 been dealt with so fully by Mr. Maiden in his paper that it is not 

 necessary to say much now ; however, we could not help noticing 

 a change in the tree vegetation which occurred about half a mile 

 before reaching the hospice, when the tall straight stems of 

 Eucalyptus amydaliria, Lab., gave place to the several twisted 

 and spreading stems of E. coriacea, A. Cunn., known as the Snow 

 Gum, and probably marking the limit of the winter snow line. 

 These trees have very white bark, and grow up the hillside at the 

 back of the hospice, and all over the summit of St. Bernard. 



