FLORA OF BATHURST. 4T5 
although growing on the same ground, did not seem to be touched 
by the parasite, although it was found on a Pultenea and a 
Dodonea, two very different plants. They, however, did not seem 
to be injured much. This spring, 1897, very little Cassytha is to 
be seen, and A. buxifulia is also scarce. The latter are small 
and stunted, but do not seem to be attacked, the only specimens 
of Cassytha obtained being on a Leptospermum and a Brachyloma. 
A much stouter Cassytha sometimes attacks gum-trees, and seems 
to kill them, but is uncommon, and I have not found it in flower 
or fruit. 
A mistletoe, Loranthus pendulus, is not uncommon on gum-trees 
growing on the Silurian, but I have not found it on those growing 
on the granite, nor have I determined whether it favours particular 
species of Eucalypts in preference to others. 
Another matter worthy of investigation is the excessive abund- 
ance of a particular weed one year and its almost entire absence 
the next. In the early part of 1896, the gardens and paddocks 
around Bathurst were completely overgrown by the introduced 
weed Amarantus paniculaius, Linn. It seemed to drive out almost 
all other weeds, and was noted in many other districts. So far 
as Bathurst is concerned it was not very common before 1896, 
although it is said to have been known in the Kempsey district 
for twenty years.* One naturally expected to see it equally 
abundant the following year, but very few plants were to be seen. 
The seasons were very similar, both dry, and there was no apparent 
parasite to account for its disappearance. This summer it appears 
likely to be common again. This weed was rarely found in the 
open country, and never in the bush. It appears in fact to be a 
tolerably general rule that introduced weeds cling to civilisation 
and seldom become acclimatised in the bush. It would be easy to 
compile a list of about a dozen common weeds found in Bathurst, 
or close to it, which are rare in the open country, while others 
extend their range over fallow fields, but in no case do we find 
them in the bush. Only three or four cases have been noticed in 
which introduced plants seem to be able to hold their own in land 
which has never been cultivated. Other observers in different 
parts of the country may not have had the same experience, but 
so far as this district is concerned there appears to be little danger 
of the native flora being driven out by introduced plants so long 
as considerable areas of bush land remain. 
A census of the Bathurst flora has been prepared showing the 
formations on which the various species have been found. Very 
nearly all have been actually collected by the writer, in only a 
few cases specimens collected by others having been accepted. 
* Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales, vol. vi, 1896, p. 299; also vol. vii, 
1896, p. 428. 
