1 66 A.UDAS, A Trip to Mount Beenak. [voi.xx 



Vicl . N;it. 

 XII. 



fully, and is used largely for layering the bricks at Jefferson's 

 brick and agricultural pipe works. The farmers in the district 

 also use it for thatching their haystacks, and it makes 

 excellent brooms. The Small Grass-tree, Xanthorrhcea minor, 

 was in full bloom, and some of the plants bore as many as six 

 and eight spikes of flower-heads. Bees are fond of these flowers, 

 which seem to be of a very melliferous nature. Gnaphalium 

 candidissimunt, an introduction from South Africa, was spreading 

 rapidly, while in the railway enclosure the Kangaroo-grass, 

 Anihistiria imberbis, claimed almost entire monopoly. In the 

 scrub adjoining the road Cassinia aculeata forms almost im- 

 penetrable areas. As you fight your way through, minute 

 hairlets are freed from the bushes, which, on getting into one's 

 throat or nostrils, set up a most unpleasant irritation. Men, 

 when clearing this scrub, have occasionally become covered 

 with a skin rash as a result of close contact, and been compelled 

 to discontinue. It is locally known as "Cauliflower Bush," the 

 flowers being usually white, but sometimes pink flowers are 

 met with. 



In the open country, herbaceous plants such as Brachycotne 

 graminea, Microseris Forsteri, Helichrysum scorpioides, Bur- 

 chardia umbellata, Podol&pis acuminata, Chameescilla corymbosa, 

 and Ranunculus lappaceus were thriving well. Here the grass 

 land was covered with innumerable little gems, so minute as 

 to be almosl imperceptible. Ol these the mosl interesting were 

 Utricularia lateriflora, Rutidosis Puntilo, PhyUoglossum Drum- 

 mondii, Levenhookia dubia, Mitrasacme paradoxa, Stylidium 

 (Candollea) despectum, S. perpusillum, Aphelia Pumilio, Drosera 

 glanduligera, and I), pygmcea the leaves ol the lattei being 

 bright red in colour. The Nai Nar Goon State school is about 

 ,i mile from the township, and in the school-grounds two fine 

 specimens ol the Crimson Bottle-brush, Callistemon lanceolatus, 

 were in lull bloom, their large, brush-like spikes ol rich crimson 

 flowers showing up prominently. This plant grows abundantly 

 in it- natural habitat, Easl Gippsland, and on the coach drive 

 from Bruthen to Buchan it is a fine sighl during the months <>t 

 Octobei and November. On the north side ol Nai Nai Goon 

 there are several hedges ol the Kangaroo Acacia, Acacia artnata, 

 and. although this is a proclaimed plant, and indigenous to 

 Victoria, our would not wish to see a finei hedge when well 

 trimmed. A' thi Araral < reels great numbers ol Bell-birds or 

 Bell Miners, Manor hina melanophrys, weir sen flitting among 

 the eucalyptus >aplings and enlivening the surroundings with 



theii musical note-. Here - coloui was given to the scene 



by the wealth ol the cleai yellow flowers ol Senecio lautus, 

 var. lanceolatus. rhe Native Heath, Epacris impressa, was 

 blooming freely in different shades ol colour pink, white, and 



