^"fj'] Audas, Characteristic Vegetation about Yarram. 65 



flower, with inflorescence from eight to ten feet in height. The 

 trunks presented a grotesque appearance, being blackened and 

 charred from the effects of a recent bush fire, which had 

 destroyed the dense crowns of wire-like leaves. According to 

 the late Baron von Mueller, this grass-tree is a great source of 

 wealth, as varnish and nitro-picric acid may, with great ease 

 and little cost, be obtained from the resin of these plants. An 

 informative paper on the subject was read before this Club by 

 Mr. R. A. Keble a little time ago, which will be found in the 

 Naturalist for November, 1915 (vol. xxxii., page 101). Where 

 the fire had burned off the undergrowth the ground became 

 vegetatively carpeted with orchids which are usually sparsely 

 found in other localities. Generally, fires have a stimulating 

 effect on certain orchids, but here the result was more prolific 

 than could be credited to the buried tubers, and the probable 

 explanation appears to be that conditions have been created 

 which are favourable to the germination of tubers dormant 

 from former seasons. Certain species seldom bloom well except 

 after a bush fire. This is notably the case with Lyperanthus 

 nigricans, Prasophyllum australe, P. datum, and Caladenia 

 Menziesii. Growing abundantly were Thelymitra ixioides, in 

 colours blue and pink, T. longifolia, T. aristata, T. antennifera, 

 Caladenia latifolia, C. Patersoni, C. carnea, C. Cairnsiana, C. 

 congesta, C. deformis, Cyrtostylis reniformis, Diuris longifolia, 

 D. sulphur ca, D. maculata, Microtis porrifolia, Glossodia major, 

 Orthoceras strictum, and Cryptostylis longifolia. 



After crossing at the top of a lagoon we came into similar 

 country to the first encountered. The track here was a real 

 bush one. Stunted grass-trees frequently appeared in the 

 centre ; very often we had a bump or two as the wheel of the 

 j inker caught a stray one. The flowers, however, increased in 

 beauty and profusion, and we pulled up on a level stretch where 

 plants of exquisite beauty were everywhere visible. The bright 

 blue flowers of Dampiera stricta were vying with those of 

 Gompholobium Huegelii in glowing yellow and red. The hand- 

 some Erect Guinea-Flower, Hibbertia stricta, the showy Long- 

 leaved Flax Lily, Dianella longifolia, and the Tufted Blue Lily, 

 Stypandra ccespitosa, which forms characteristic rush-like clumps, 

 were everywhere showing a riot of growth and profusion of 

 flowers. Tetratheca ciliata, with its pretty pink four-petalled 

 blossoms and dark-coloured stamens, was in the height of 

 bloom. This is one of the best known and most admired 

 plants of our bush, and when gathered, it may be mentioned, 

 the blooms will last quite a long time as cut flowers. Some- 

 times it is called " Wild Boronia," which is quite erroneous, 

 as it belongs to the Tremandraceae, or Milkwort family. 

 Bauer a rubioides (Saxifragaceae), sometimes known under the 



