82 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV. 



This appears especially to be the case with the genus Pulteiicea, of 

 which no less than five new species have been recently recorded, 

 one of them, P. Weindor/eri, Reader, being found comparatively 

 near Melbourne. In any case the comparison with England, 

 which, in spite of its isolation as an island and larger area, has 

 hardly any true endemic species, is very striking. 



The endemic species of Victoria include Eucalyptus alpi7ia, 

 Acacia tenuifolia, Pultencea (9 species), Grevillea (4 species). 

 Aster Benthami, Goodenia Macmillani, Prostanihera (3 species), 

 Styphelia (2 species), Thelymitra (2 species), Praaophyllum (2 

 species), Stipa (2 species), Poa (2 species), Lepidosperma tortuo- 

 sicm, and many others. There is, however, a smaller percentage 

 of endemic species in Victoria than in any other State of Australia, 

 owing to the greater range of conditions within its boundaries and 

 to the close connection with neighbouring States, the northern 

 and western boundaries of Victoria being political rather than geo- 

 graphical or botanical. 



The genera with endemic species, and more especially Pultencea, 

 Grevillea, Acacia^ Eucalyptus, TJielymitra, and Prasop/iyUum, may 

 be regarded as especially adapted to Victorian conditions and as 

 characteristic representatives of its flora. 



The latter is, however, in a transitional condition, and is rapidly 

 undergoing modification as the result of civilization. 



The chief factors tending to the disadvantage of the native flora 

 are — the progress of deforestation, the draining of swamps and 

 swampy localities, sheep pasturing and the spread of rabbits, the 

 increase of the area under cultivation or irrigation, and the intro- 

 duction of hordes of alien weeds and garden escapes, many of 

 which are not merely more or less aggressive weeds of cultivation — 

 Seyiecio, Carduus, Centaurea, Anagallis arveiisis (Pimpernel), 

 Sonchus (Sow Thistle), and Tares ( Vicia), &c. — but also establish 

 themselves on pastures and virgin ground, largely ousting the 

 native flora. Such plants are the Gorse, Ulex Europceus, Peren- 

 nial Thistle, Carduus arvensis, Onion Grass, Romulea cruciata, 

 Blackberry Bramble, Rubus /ruticosus, Briar, Rosa rubiginosa, 

 Ragwort, Seuecio Jacobcea, St. John's Wort, PLypericuni perforatum, 

 %\AX\V\NQ\\., Inula graveolens, ^ox\.\\orn, Lyciumhorridum, Prickly 

 Pear, Opuntia monacantha, and many others. The list of i)ro- 

 claimed plants of Victoria now includes no less than 42 species, of 

 which only the Nut Grass, Cyperus rotundus, Chinese Scrub, 

 Cassinia arcuata, the Mistletoes, Loratdlius celastroides and 

 L. pendidus, and the Prickly Acacia, Acacia arinata, are native 

 plants. 



One striking peculiarity is to be noted— namely, that the intro- 

 duced Pimpernel is ousting the two native Pimpernels, and the 

 same applies in other cases also. Thus the native Hypericum is 

 not particularly abundant, whereas the introduced Hypericum, or 



