572 



The measurement of individual trees seems really enormous. We 

 have a prostrate tree measuring 200 feet to the first branch ; a second 

 cut into rails each 180 feet long ; a third so large that it could not be 

 cut into lengths /or splitting, and a shed had been erected against it, 

 the tree serving for a back. The following dimensions are given of 

 ten standing trees, which occurred within half a mile : their circum- 

 ference was taken at four feet from the ground. 



No. 1,-45 feet; No.2,— 37A; No. 3,— 35; No. 4,— 38; No. 5,-28; No. (i,— 30; 

 No. 7,-32 ; No. 8,-65 ; No. 9,— 40| ; No. 10,-48. 



On the banks of the Emu river was a laurel-like shrub of great 

 beauty, with clusters of white blossoms half an inch across (Anoptera 

 glandulosus). In the same vicinity occur three edible plants; the first 

 a fungus which grows on the myrtle, and is known in the colony by 

 the name of " punk : " the second is also a fungus, produced in clus- 

 ters from swollen portions of the branches of the same shrub, and va- 

 rying in size from that of a nut to that of a walnut ; its taste is like 

 cold cow-heel : the third is " Gastrodium sesamoides, a plant of the 

 orchis tribe, which is brown, leafless, and 1^ foot high, with dingy, 

 whitish, tubular flowers. It grows amongst decaying vegetable mat- 

 ter, and has a root like a series of kidney potatoes, terminating in a 

 branched thick mass of coral-like fibres. It is eaten by the Aborigi- 

 nes, and is sometimes called Native Potato, but the tubers are watery 

 and insipid." 



In returning over the island to Hobart Town, there appear to have 

 been but few plants that attracted much notice. In the vicinity of 

 this place a species of Conospermura, with narrow strap-shaped leaves 

 and small flowers, was noticed. In October, 1833, the travellers as- 

 cended Mount Wellington. 



" At the base, sandstone and limestone form low hills ; further up, compact argil- 

 laceous rock rises into higher hills, which abound in marine fossils. The height of the 

 mountain is 4000 feet. Near the top, basalt shows itself in some places, in columnar 

 cliffs. The trees, for two-thirds of its height, are stringy-bark, white and blue gum, 

 peppermint, &c. A species of Eucalyptus, unknown in the lower part of the forest, is 

 frequent at an elevation of 3000 feet. Another is found on the top of the mountain. 

 The different species of Eucalyptus are very common, and form at least seven-eighths 

 of the vast forests of Tasmania. In the middle region of the mountain, the climate 

 and soil are humid. The Tasmanian myrtle — Fagus Cunninghamii, here forms trees 

 of moderate size ; the Australian pepper-tree, — Tasmania fragrans, is frequent; the 

 broad-leaved grass-tree — Richea Dracophylla, forms a striking object; it is very abun- 

 dant, and on an average, from ten to fifteen feet high ; it is much branched, and has 

 broad, grassy foliage. The branches are terminated by spike-like panicles of white 

 llowers, intermingled with broad, bractcal leaves, tinged with pink. Culcilium salici. 

 Ibliuni, Hakca lissospcrma, Tclopea truncata, C'orriEa fcrruginea, Gaulthcria hispida. 



