^""'■^^^^'"l Excursion to Cheltenham. 12; 



EXCURSION TO CHELTENHAM. 



About a dozen members took part in the excursion to Chelten- 

 ham on Saturday, 8th October. The party, on leaving the 

 station, passed through the Cemetery grounds, where several 

 of the Black Sheoak, Casiiarina siiberosa. Otto and Dietr., 

 were found to be infested with the mistletoe, Loranthus 

 celastroides, Sieb., which is slowly but surely killing the trees. 

 A line cultivated specimen of the " Lilly-pilly," Eugenia Smithii, 

 Poir., was seen in fruit. We also noticed how the South African 

 irids, Spar axis tricolor, Ker Gawl (Ixia, sp.), and Homeria 

 collina, Vent. (Cape Tulip), had escaped from cultivation and 

 were establishing themselves among the grass in the unused 

 parts of the Cemetery. Several native plants were noticed in 

 flower within the enclosure. As we wended our way through 

 the Cheltenham Park, quite a large number of native plants 

 were noted, and it was remarked that this park would be a 

 suitable place for the conservation of the native flora of the 

 district, more especially as the adjoining land is gradually being 

 brought under cultivation, or being used for residential pur- 

 poses. However, I understand the park is to be converted into 

 golf links, which will probably put an end to the native plants. 

 The coast tea-tree, Leptospermum It^vigatwn, F. v. M., and 

 the small tea-tree, Leptospermum myrsinoides, Sieb., were 

 covered with white bloom, and at a distance gave one the idea 

 that there had been a recent fall of snow. The Wedding- 

 bush, Ricinocarpus pinifoliits, Desf., was met with in great 

 profusion. The Blue Squill, ChamcBscilla corymhosa, F. v. M., 

 looked charming among the grass and undergrowth. The 

 white-flowered form was not noticed. Of the Leguminosce, 

 which is well represented in this district, Aotus villosa, Sm., 

 Hairy Aotus ; Pultemha paleacea, Willd., Chaffy Bush Pea ; 

 Daviesia ulicina, Sm., Gorse Bitter Pea ; Dillwynia cinerascens, 

 R. Br., Grey Parrot Pea ; Acacia oxycedrus, Sieb., Spike 

 Acacia, might specially be mentioned. Three members of the 

 rice-flower, Pimelea, were noted in flower — P. humilis, R. Br., 

 P. phyllicoides, Meiss., and P. octophylla, R. Br. Several repre- 

 sentatives of the Orchidaceae were met with, including Caladenia 

 Palcrsoni, R. Br., Spider Orchid ; C. carnea, R. Br., Pink 

 Fingers ; Thelymitra antennifera. Hook f. ; Lyperaiithiis nigri- 

 cans, R. Br. ; Glossodia major, R. Br. ; and Prasophyllum 

 datum, R. Br. In all, fully sixty species were noted in flower 

 or fruit. Of these the following might be mentioned : — Hakea 

 ptigioniformis, Cav. ; Bur char dia umiellata, R. Br., Milkmaids ; 

 Arthropodium strictum, R. Br. ; and Comesperma voluhile. Lab., 

 Love Creeper. A few patches of the Wild Parsnip, Didiscus 

 pilosus, Benth., were also observed. This plant is generally 

 credited with poisonous properties, but investigations have not 



