The South Australian Naturalist. 29 



iu the groLiudj and tliey spread out umbrella shape. The brauchlets are red 

 and the fruits are large, being- from half to three-quarters of au inch long, 

 rough aud ribbed. This soil is pure Avliite saiid, and very few plants grow 

 in the spaces between the clumps. There are, however, a feAv plants Avliich 

 associate themselves with this bailee, and one is the native currant {Acro- 

 tridie depressa, E. Br.), which was grooving at its base. Here and there 

 were to be seen specimens of Acacia spinescens. An eriea-like heath {Brac- 

 liyJomacricoides, Sond.j is quite at home in this soil, and grew close to the 

 above Mallee shrubs. 



5. The oil Mallee {E. oleosa, F. M.), No. 937, is frequently met with 

 in this country. The specific name means oily, ancl refers to the oil found 

 in the leaves. Many oil vessels are noticeable when the leaves are held up 

 to the light. One colony of this species was 10 to 12 yards in diameter and 

 about 12 feet high; its soil was practically a pure sand. On either side of 

 this clump was growing the Pink Gum, on Avnicii grew several clusters of 

 Mistletoe {Loranthus pcndulus, Sieberj. This parasite was not at all 

 plentiful in this district; this was the only specimen seen. The ubiquitous 

 rush plants {Xerutes, sp.) accompanied the taller neighbours. 



6. Although not a Mallee, the Gum {E. leucoxylon, var. macrocarpa, 

 J. E. Br.j, No. 962, grew in the mallee-clumj) form. It grows larger than 

 the true Mallees, being 20 to oO feet high, with some of the trunks 12 inches 

 in diameter. Perhaps this is accounted for by the fact that it is 10 be found 

 in the fiats between hill slopes, where it would get the most moisture. Its 

 stems sjjread out considerably; some were only 20 to 30 degrees from the 

 horizontal. The bark is very ragged and i^eels off in strips. The specimen 

 noted was in fiower, the red blossoms making a fine sight. Its associates 

 were Melaleuca parviflora, Lind., Quondang, and low shrubby Dodunaca 

 species. 



7. The Pink Gum (Eucalyptus fasciculosa, 1\ M.), No. 916, has a 

 smooth bark, very light grey to nearly white. The trunks grow to about 

 10 inches in diameter on an average, and the timber, when freshly cut, is 

 jjink or red. One tree noticed had branches spread out unusually wide and 

 pendulous. This was probably accounted for by the mass of fiower buds 

 and fruits on the branches. A branch half an inch in diameter would 

 support a cluster of fiowers and seed vessels about 18 in. in dia,meter. From 

 this one small branch hundreds of branchlets were produced, each bearing 

 dense panicles of buds, fiowers, and fruits. 



Acacia calamifolia, Sweet, A. spinescens, Benth., Melaleuca acuminata, 

 F. M., Dodonaea, and Xcrotes were all growing in the red sand and lime- 

 stone on rising ground. One scene showed how well the Dodonaea, Alclalcuca 

 (jlomcrata, F. M., blended with the Pink Gum and the limestone. 



Xcrotes, sp., on this soil forms a low, rounded bush, with its sharp, 

 double-pointed leaves Avoven into a dense, intricate mass. It is a veritable 

 "liedge-hog" plant. Nature provides this protection, and the floAvers are 

 AA'ell doAvn iiL the bush, Avheie animals cannot get at them. The scent, hoAv- 

 CA'er, is very strong, and insects Avould readily find the buslies and ensure 

 pollination of the fioAvers. 



One species of natiA-e cherry (Exocarpus spartea, R. Br.j formed a tree 

 about 15 feet high. The loAvest lateral branches are horizontal, Avhile the 

 highest are fairly erect, but the terminal branchlets in each case are pendant. 

 Alongside this Avas the oily Mallee, about 10 feet high, and a tall shrub of 

 Prostantliera Beliriana, Schlect., Avith it delicate pink fioAvers — a beautiful 

 sight. Teatree and reed-leaved Avattle Avere also groAving in the same ?andy 

 soil. Along a limestone ridge I counted over 50 specimens of a spider orchid 

 (Caladenia filamentosa) in 20 yards. Many other plants Avere noted that 

 do not call for special mention in this paper. 



