Vol. xxvm. 



igii 



J Sutton, Notes on the Sandringham Flora. ii 



Rhagodia already mentioned as finding support among the 

 plants of the " leptospermetum," and rising to the height of a 

 few feet only (" semi-lianes " or " scramblers "), three other 

 lianes are often seen mixed with the foliage of the highest 

 shrubs. 'The "Large" or "Black Dodder laurel," Cassytha 

 melantha, and the " Climbing Lignum " or " Macquarie Harbour 

 Vine," Muehlenheckia adprcssa, are ' twiners,' and the " Coast 

 Clematis," C. microphylla, a ' leaf climber.' 



Thickly covering the ground where the larger ' sclerophyllous ' 

 plants are not too densely set and the sun can freely penetrate, 

 is a third story or stratum of, mostly, softer herbs, among which 

 are many orchids. Some of these have been referrecl to as 

 encroaching on the beach below, but, among many others, perhaps 

 the most j^revalent are the " Hairy Crane's-bill," Geranium 

 pilosum ; the " Nodding Saltbush," Rhagodia nutans ; the 

 " Ground " or " Cranberry," Styphelia humiiusa ; the " Common 

 Pennywort," Hydrocotyle vtilgaris ; the " Rayed Carrot," 

 Daucus hrachiatus ; the " Tall Daisy." Brachycome diver sifolia ; 

 Millotia tenuifolia ; the " Kidney Weed," Dichondra repens ; 

 the " Pellitory," Parietaria debilis ; and the " Common Green 

 Buttons," Cotula australis. Of a still lower growth are such 

 minute plants as Hydrocotyle callicarpa, the Leeuwenhoekias, and 

 Mitrasacme paradoxa. Not the least charm about the Sand- 

 ringham flora lies in the profusion of orchids contained in it, 

 and probably no other locality in the State presents such a 

 variety and abundance of species. Over 63 per cent, of the 

 terrestrial species have been reported, and 17 genera out of 21 

 are represented. Among 20 species of Pterostylis, only two 

 are absent, and, with one or two exceptions, all of these prefer 

 the shelter of the " leptospermetum," where the milder temper- 

 ature, still air, and soft, moist sand seem to provide conditions 

 peculiarly favourable to the growth of these tender herbs. 

 Even when no orchids are in flower the eye cannot fail to be 

 attracted by the hosts of heart-shaped leaves close pressed to 

 the ground, those with purple underpage indicating the 

 " Mosquito Orchid," Cyrtostylis reniformis ; others, smaller and 

 equally green on both sides," the "Gnat Orchid," Acianthus 

 exsertus ; larger still, and coarser, the " Flower of Sadness," 

 Lyperanthus nigricans ; and again, in deep shade, the green 

 shields of the " Red Helmet," Corysanthes pvuinosa. Number- 

 less rosettes show the presence of the various species of Pter- 

 ostylis, and single long hairy leaves mark the spots where the 

 tubers of the Caladenias are gathering their forces so as to be 

 able to send up their delightful blossoms at the fitting time. 



Returning now to the consideration of what is popularly 

 known as the heath country, already referred to as " scler- 

 ophyllous scrub," or maqui, it will be appropriate to mention 



