476 



PROCEEDINGS OP SECTION D. 



3,000ft. level is reached, and instead we find G. laurifolia Sieb., and G. 

 acanthifoUa A. Cunn., neither of which descends to the vicinity of 

 Sydney. 



Doryanthes excelsa, Correa (giant lily or gymea), though common on 

 the sandstone north and south of Sydney, has never been noticed by me 

 at an elevation of 2,500ft. The genus Melaleuca is well represpnted 

 around Port Jackson, but rare on the higher parts of the Blue Mountains. 



Le/ptospermum IcBvigatum, F. v. M., and Westringia rosmariformis, 

 Sm., are abundant on the sandstone along the seashore, but their 

 occurrence on the mountains is unknown to me. The distribution of 

 these two plants, however, is probably regulated to a great extent by 

 their love of coastal conditions. 



Among those which are common above the 3,000ft. level, but, so 

 far as I know, do not occur on the same formation around Port Jackson, 

 the following may be mentioned : — Boronia Deanei, Maiden and Betche ; 

 Eriostemon ohovalis, A. Cunn. ; Epacris reclinata, A. Cunn. ; Mitrasactne 

 serpillifolia, R. Br. ; Persoonia mollis, R. Br. : P. myrtilloides, Sieb. ; 

 P. Chamcepithys, A. Cunn.; and Casuarina nana, Sieb. 



At the same time there are many coastal plants which flourish on 

 the Blue Mountains. The beautiful flannel flower [Actinotus ^fdianthi, 

 Labill), so common around Sydney, does not find the elevation of 

 Mount Victoria at 3,400ft. too great, and is even found extending 

 intermittently, though sparingly, down the western slopes to Wellington. 

 The charming waratah {Telopea speciosissima, R. Br.,) is also as attrac- 

 tive near Bell and Clarence at 3,600ft. as when growing on similar 

 sandstone around Sydney. 



Of the genus Eucalyptus, the common bloodwood {E. corymbosa, 

 Sm.,) continues on the sandstone from Sydney to Wentworth Falls, 

 at about 3,000ft ; but, though the geological formation remains exactly 

 the same, this tree is unable to face the colder climate of higher altitudes. 

 Its discrimination between sandstone and shale formations is a notable 

 feature. E. eximia, Schauer, has a much more restricted range, extend- 

 ing only up to about 1,800ft. E. resinifera, Sm., the red or forest 

 mahogany, continues up to about the 2,000ft. level. The latter species, 

 however, is not altogether typical of the Hawkesbury sandstone forma- 

 tion, and favors soils of finer texture. The latter remark applies also 

 to the three well known ironbarks, E. paniculata, Sm. ; E. siderophloia, 

 Benth. ; and E. crehra, F. v. M. These three species all cease before 

 the 1,500ft. level is reached, and seem quite unable to withstand the 

 conditions of a cold climate. Of course, as they proceed northward to 

 warmer latitudes, a higher elevation is attained. On the other hand, 

 as southern latitudes are approached, these species gradually recede to 

 lower levels, until they cease altogether ; not one species of the true 

 ironbark being found in Tasmania. 



A tree which is of interest from its regard for geological formations 

 is Syncarpia laurifolia, Ten., the well known turpentine, so extensively 

 used for piles in salt water. The most southern representative of this 

 species is some 12 or 15 miles north of Bateman's Bay, having been 

 recorded by Mr. J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., many years ago. A geological 



