J5^i6'] SvTTON, A Sketch of the Keilor Plains Flora. 119 



very beautiful wedgewood-blue of the Erynguim rostratum most 

 compjllingly take the eye, and with it are very often associated 

 Convolvulus entbescens, Erythraea, Wahlcnbergia, and the 

 Calocephalus. 



Many other plants are individually even more numerous than 

 the above-mentioned, but their insignificance or nondescript 

 appearance or colour prevent easy recognition. Some of these, 

 subordinate in spite of numbers, are Helipterum dimorpholepis. 

 Lobelia concolor, Sebaeas, Tilleas, Hydrccotyles, Loewtnhockia, 

 Oxalis, Veronica gracilis, Erodium, and Stuartina Muelleri. 

 Except those species occupying the infrequent patches of damp 

 ground, definite plant associations are not easily recognizable 

 on the plains. The changes in the composition of the vegetation 

 are gradual and subtle, and the whole area may be considered, 

 with the above quahfication, as one large " association." 

 Where water lies longest plants commonly found elsewhere in 

 similar situations, such as Isotoma fluviatilis, Lythrum hyssopi- 

 folia, Selliera radicans, Epilobium, Lobelia anceps, Cotulas, 

 and others, are also noticed here. Damasonium and Ahsma 

 may not uncommonly be discovered in company, and Marsilea 

 is occasionally met with. At the outskirts of the plains, where 

 members of the neighbouring formations are pushing in, in the 

 shelter of the canyons, and especially towards the coast, where 

 the varjring moisture and salinity of the ground determine the 

 grouping, quite well-marked associations are noticeable. 



Tree Growth. 



Before deaHng with these groups, reference may be made 

 here to the tree growth of the area. Although ten eucalypts 

 have been noted, only four exist in such numbers that they 

 may be said to belong to the basalt. Of these, the River Red 

 Gum, E. rostrata, is undoubtedly predominant, exceeding the 

 others in numbers, distribution, and range. In the eastern 

 part, especiaUy about and between Epping and Woodstock, 

 it forms fine open forests, where trees quite often attain im- 

 posing proportions. Perhaps no other of the great genus 

 shows so much individuality as this species, no two trees being 

 quite alike except in that they all bow more or less to the pole 

 in deference to the will of the strong north winds. The varied 

 sweep of their massive, far-outreaching, and often strangely 

 contorted branches, and the sober yet rich colouring of bole 

 and limbs, endows them with a picturesqueness quite 

 redeeming the flat country from its monotony. The Red Gum 

 has almost undisputed possession of all the water-courses, often 

 extending in that way right up on to the open plain. Isolated 

 groups exist near Point Cook and on the Werribee Sewage Farm, 

 and the trees, though small, appear to be of considerable age. 



