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* 
AUSTRALIAN VEGETATION, INDIGENOUS OR INTRODUCED, 
CONSIDERED ESPECIALLY IN ITS BEARINGS ON THE OC- 
CUPATION OF THE TERRITORY AND WITH A VIEW OP 
UNFOLDING ITS RESOURCES. 
By Ferdinand Mueller, Ph.D., M.D., F.R.S. 
The great continent of Australia exhibits throughout its varied 
zones marked diversities in the physiognomy of its vegetation. These 
differences stand less in relation to geographical latitudes than to geo- 
logical formations, and especially climatical conditions. Yet it is in 
few localities only where the peculiar features, impressed by nature as 
a whole on the Australian landscape, cannot at once be recognised. 
The occurrence of eucalypts and simple-leaved acacias in all regions, 
and tne preponderance of these trees in most, suffice alone to demon- 
strate that in Australia we are surrounded largely by forms of the 
vegetable world which, as a complex, nowhere re-occur beyond its 
territory, unless in creations, of age3 passed by. 
In a cursory glance at the vegetation, as intended on this occasion, 
it is not the object to analyse its details. In viewing vegetable life 
here, more particularly as the exponent of clime, or as the guide for 
settlement, or as the source of products for arts and manufactures, we 
may content ourselves by casting a view only on the leading features 
presented by the world of plants in this great country, 
absence of very high and wooded mountains imparts to the vegetation 
throughout a vast extent of Australia a degree of monotony, we per- 
ceive that the occurrence of lofty forest ranges along the whole eastern 
and south-eastern coast change largely there the aspect of the country. 
and in this alteration the mountainous island Tasmania greatly parti- 
cipates. Thus the extensive umbrageous forest regions of peipetua 
humidity commence in the vicinity of Cape Otway, extend occasionally, 
but not widely interrupted, through the southern and eastern part o 
Victoria, and thence, especially on the seaside slopes of the range* 
throughout the whole of extra- and intra-tropical East Australia m a 
band of more or less width, until the cessation of elevated mountains 
on the northern coast confines the regions of continued moisture o 
narrow strip of jungle-land margining the coast. In this vaut 1 
elevated coast-country, extending in length over nearly three thousau 
While 
