340 TRANSACTIONS AND PKOCEEDINGS OF' THE [Sess. LXVii. 



South Australia, as a probable survival of an alpine flora 

 of Pliocene date.^ 



Another species, the handsome Orlics lancifolia, is an 

 inhabitant, almost exceptionally, of the higher and colder 

 regions, not descending in this area below 3000 ft. 



Several of the Hakeas and Grevilleas form small trees 

 at the sub-alpine habitats, but become dwarfed to almost 

 prostrate shrubs at the higher altitudes. 



The Banksias do not thrive above 4000 ft. altitude. 

 Telopea (the waratah) is restricted to the eastern valley of 

 the Snowy Eiver (coast range). 



ThymelE/E. — The most extensive genus here represented 

 is that of Fivielea, containing several species known 

 as possessing valuable industrial properties, as F. axijiora 

 and others, which yield a fine brown dye, and superior 

 bast of great tenacity, and the more compact bush P. 

 ligusfrina, of medicinal value, — the former more abundant 

 on shady hillsides at lower levels, and the latter on the 

 wooded depressions on the high tablelands up to 5000 ft. 

 Another species, P. alpina, is common as a diffuse small 

 leaved form at the higher altitudes up to 7000 ft. in open 

 situations. 



EUBIACE.E. — Two genera, Coprosriia and Asperula, are 

 represented by species, C. hirtdla and A. oligantha, at 

 the higher levels, 4000 to 6000 ft. 



Caprifoliace.e. — The only species of the native elder- 

 berry, Samhiicus gaudichaudiana, ascends to 5000 ft., and 

 in the form and thickness of leaves and general habit 

 differs considerably from the lowland form. 



CoMPO.siT.-K.— 25 Genera. 74 Species. — The e.Ktensive 

 order Compositai next claims attention. Bentham re- 

 mirks: "The Composite are the most extensive of 

 flowering plants, and represented in every quarter of the 

 globe in every variety of station," and that there are five 



1 Trans. Roy. Soc, S.A., "Notes on the Proteacete of the Australian 

 Alps," by J. Scirling. 



