The South Australian Naturalist. 43 



side of the river, probably the portion between the Torrens 

 Lake and tlie Children's Hospital, was called by the natives 

 ''Karra-wirra/' or "'Red Gum scrub." No doubt along the 

 stream there were shrubs, such as the pretty white-flowered 

 Bursaria spinosa. or ''Native Box." which still survives along 

 creeks near Burnside. The park lands have been so thoroughly 

 replanted with foreign or Australian trees that it is only by 

 means of analogy that the original vegetation can be guessed at. 



Among lowly growths one sometimes still meets on the 

 park lands a few specimens of the pretty Liliaceous plant, 

 Arthropodium strictum, and that sturdy Composite, Vittadinia 

 australis, with its purple flowerheads. 



Along the banks of the Torrens and in the Avater grow in 

 places dense masses of the tall Bulrush or Reedmace (Typha 

 angustifolia), with its long, velvety spikes, and here and there 

 are found two or three native species of Rush (the stout- 

 stemmed Juncus pallidus and the slender J. pauciflorus and J. 

 polyanthemus). From the bottom of the stream grov\'s the 

 Curly Pondweed (Potamogeton erispus), and when the surface 

 is reached in summer it becomes a nuisance to rowers and 

 swimmers, and has to be cleared away. In the shallow water 

 along the banks there grows in places the Cotula coronopifolia, 

 Avhich in winter and spring makes a gay show with its bright 

 yellow, button-like flowerheads. Tavo tiny plants — Crassula 

 macrantha and C. colorata — may still be found, although rarely, 

 near the river. The fleshy stems often turn bright red. Of 

 native grasses Avhich persist, the Speargrass, which waves its 

 light panicles in the wind on the north park lands — Stipa 

 scabra — is perhaps the most conspicuous. The saltbush, known 

 as Atriplex Muelleri. can still be seen Avithin the city bounds, 

 and also Enchylaena tomentosa. Avith its bright red and yelloAv 

 berries. 



It must be remembered that these, and a fcAv others, AAhich 

 I have no doubt oA^erlooked, are mere remnants. The primitve 

 flora of Adelaide has been almost entirely displaced by outsid- 

 ers: — from the lofty European Pines, Moreton Bay Figs, Silky 

 Oaks, AYeeping WilloAvs, Elms, Poplars, European Oaks, etc.. 

 doAA'u to the grasses and Aveeds introduced from many parts of 

 the Avorld, and far too numerous to mention here. 



About a mile beyond the Enfield terminus, and someAvhat 

 to the east of the main road, is a small block of four or five 

 acres, Avhich by some happy chance has been fenced in and 

 alloAved to remain in its natural condition. It is probably 

 unique on the Adelaide plains, and to find the native flora in 

 such an untouched state one Avould have to travel eastAvard up 



