186 AUSTRALIA 



and economic value. In the mediterranean coastal strip 

 of West Australia the eucalyptus forest is, properly 

 speaking, an evergreen woodland overtopped by euca- 

 lyptus trees ; but in eastern Australia, over most of the 

 coastal highlands as well as over a broad margin of 

 plains on the inland side, the eucalyptus is intimately 

 associated with the grass-land. It stands either singly 



FIG. 66. Eucalyptus forest cleared for wheat : harvest time S. Australia. 



or in loose forests: when single, it is regularly dotted 

 over the grassy plain without undergrowth, and casts 

 hardly any shade by reason of the vertical drooping of its 

 scythe-like leaves : when it occurs in regular forests, as 

 in the mountains, it may be entirely destitute of any 

 undergrowth other than grass, or possess a sort of 

 scrubby underwood of evergreens. The forests are 



