August, 

 1913 



] D' Altos, Boiaity of the " Little Desert." 69 



that of neglecta being decidedly unpleasant. During the months 

 of February and March the other species, M. parviflora, may 

 be found in abundance in full bloom along the northern margin 

 of the Desert. That other pretty species, M. gibbosa, inhabits 

 most of the swamps met with here and there through the 

 Desert, and in many places a dwarf variety of pitstidata is to 

 be met with, likewise M. acuminata. The common Dodoncea 

 viscosa abounds in two forms — one with bright- coloured seed- 

 vessels on low bushes, and the other tall shrubs or small trees 

 having bright green leaves and pale seed-vessels. We must 

 not forget the presence of Bursaria spinosa, in two forms like- 

 wise, one smaller than the other. 



The road which leads from Kaniva to Lemon Springs or to 

 Edenhope passes through a part of the Desert where that truly 

 beautiful plant, Calectasia cyanea, abounds, also another pretty 

 little shrub, a late bloomer, Styphelia Woodsii, of compact 

 growth, and putting forth a profusion of small white, bell-like 

 flowers, nicely perfumed. Here may also be found Adenanthos 

 terminalis, a most peculiar-looking small shrub, brownish-green 

 leaves and pale yellow flowxrs in heads, and now and then one 

 sees a shrub or plant above the others, bright yellow or 

 reddish, which, on closer inspection, turns out to be that 

 other remarkable plant Didymotheca pleiococca, which grows 

 abundantly here. If we travel this road in the month of 

 October or November we will be surprised at the immense 

 forest of grass-trees, Xanthorrhcea australis, passed through 

 in full bloom, some of the spikes reaching to a height of at 

 least ten feet. In the swamp grow Limnanthemum exaltatum 

 and Gratiola peduncidata, margined with plants such as Sebcea 

 ovata and Erythrcea spicata ; and probably the red colour one 

 sees from a distance is due to the presence of Myviophyllum 

 elatinoides. We may also have the pleasure of making the 

 acquaintance of that rather handsome little shrub, Thomasia 

 petalocalyx, pink-flowered and nicely adorned with crimpled 

 leaves. We must not forget the presence in such places of the 

 lowly little annuals, Levenhookia diibia, Candollea calcavata, and 

 Polypornpholyx teneila. On the rises occur Ampevea spartioides 

 in conjunction with Styphelia serrulata, and the Casuarina 

 distyla is infested with the parasites Cassytha glabella and C. 

 pubescens ; and probably a mallee bush will be seen covered 

 with the larger species, C. melantha. Rarely a plant of the 

 handsome Hybanthus floribundus is found in the Little Desert, 

 but the equally showy Boronia coerulescens is generally seen 

 peeping through the tussocks and smaller scrub. 



There is a small oasis in the centre of the Desert on which 

 grow a few Red Gum trees, Eticalyptus rostrata, and some 

 Leptospermiim scoparimn bushes, under which may be found 



