184 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



flowers make a rather inconspicuous and unshapely plant, 

 Pimelea elacliantha, P. niic7ocephala, and Goodenia varia, 

 another sticky plant of trailing habit, mostly seeking support 

 from the Mallee clumps, were all in fine flowering condition. 



Just before reaching the vermin-proof fence which crosses the 

 country from east to west at PuUut railway station, Aster 

 muelleri (sticky) and A. decurrens were obtained, and beyond the 

 fence the interesting little labiate Teucrmm sessiliflorum, owning 

 a very agreeable musk-like odour, was growing abundantly on the 

 roadside. 



Near to Rainbow were Angianthvs tomentosus, with a pleasant 

 lemon-like aroma ; fine specimens of Uelipter^im jesseni (seen 

 frequently previously), with pretty old gold flowers ; and H. 

 corymhijioruvi, seeming to have a predilection for cultivated 

 ground. 



Returning to Jeparit by a road skirting Lake Hindmarsh, less 

 success was met with, but a fine shrub of Uakea vittata, several 

 of Acacia salicina, with orange-coloured flowers, and Lavatera 

 plebeja were seen, and a salt flat almost covered with Kochia 

 villosa provided my portfolio with specimens of Bassia bicornis, 

 Calocephalus sonderi, Myosurus mi')iimus, Playianthus spicatus, 

 P. microphallus, Brachycome jiachyjjtera, and Swainsonia 

 procu7nbens. Frankenia Icevis was present in form as we know 

 it near Melbourne, but on another salt flat to the west of Jeparit 

 it was found growing in low bushy plants of pale grey-green 

 colour, with very minute white flowers. Just away from this 

 other salt-pan was Aster ranndosus, wiUi a very distinct pig-sty 

 odour, and very different from the species as we know it in the 

 south, along with its congeners, A microphyllus and A. lepi- 

 dophyllus ; also Humea sqiiamata, with buds yet unopened ; 

 Helichrysum decurrens, Aster pimelioides, A. exul, Zygophyllum 

 billardieri, and at some little distance, on rising ground, Z. 

 Jruticulosum. This takes the shape of numerous smallish 

 bushes of light green succulent foliage and bright yellow flowers. 

 Its appearance would lead one to suppose that it would make a 

 useful fodder plant in this dry district, but no stock will touch it, 

 and even the rabbit leaves it severely alone. 



Close to Lake Hindmarsh were fine lush bushes of Solanum 

 simile, Muehlenbeckia cimninghami, and Authocercis myosotidea, 

 and huge examples, quite two feet high, of Ajuga australis, the 

 introduced tree tobacco, Nicotiana glauca, an ugly straggling 

 shrub, and nearing the water many plants of our only poppy, 

 the charming little brick-red Papaver aculeatum. 



Just near where the VVimmera empties into the fine expanse of 

 Lake Hindmarsh an extensive area is covered with shapely 

 shrubs oi Acacia brachybotrya, growing in the loose sand. This 

 species is so abundant in blossom, which is such a happy contrast 

 to the younger grey-green leaves, and is so prodigal of its odours, 



