I33 2 



. / 1 r S TR. 1 L. ISIA ILL USTRA TED. 





Pines of California. Indeed, the ultimate height of Kucalypts is sometimes only reached 

 by a solitary bough, or some few straggling branches, quite unlike the uniformly close 

 and densely symmetric growth of most conifers ; and hence a Eucalypt of exceptionally 

 great height might not be recognized as such, though (to make use of the expressions 

 of a local observer of Karri-trees), " it is only by successive efforts that the summit of 

 such giant trees comes within visual . reach ; whilst in their enormous stem-circumference 

 perhaps the Eucalypts and the Sequoias stand unrivalled." 



Irrespective of striking beauties in the vegetation of Western Australia, there is an 

 obvious occurrence of specific forms pertaining to many genera not represented beyond 

 Australia. Thus, there are the Candollcas and Leschcnanltias of tender and exquisite 



loveliness. Boronia, a rich genus restricted 

 to this part of the world, is in South- 

 western Australia developed to the amplest 

 extent, one species (B. megastigma), from 

 that region having become a conservatory 

 favourite abroad, on account of the strong 

 aromatic perfume of its flowers. As in 

 other extra-tropic regions of Australia, the 

 Grcvillcas and Hakcas predominate among 

 I'rotcacca" : some llaaksias are remark- 

 able there either for their tallness or for 

 the large size of their fruit, and one 

 ( B. coccinca}, for the brilliancy of its 

 flowers. Dryandra, also endemic in Wes- 

 tern Australia, reckons 

 numerous species. Very 

 similar to some arbores- 

 cent Grcvillcas, is the 

 Nuytsia - tree, with its 

 ample golden-yellow 

 flower-bunches, and, like 

 the shrubby Atkinsonia of 

 the Blue Mountains, en- 

 tirely terrestrial, though 

 structurally belonging to 

 the order of Mistletoes. 

 Here nearly the only 



Australian kind of 'Sandal-trees with fragrant wood (Santalnin cygnorinn} is to be found. 

 Of the great genus Acacia, represented in all the warmer zones, that of South Europe 

 excepted, there are in Australia fully two-thirds of the species. The principal " Wattle " 

 of this territory for tan-bark is A. saligna, while the species there with scented wood, 

 similar to that of Myall in Eastern Australia, is A. acnuiinata, from which a cosmetic 

 oil can be remuneratively distilled. 



The South Australian flora, and, to a great measure, that of Central Australia, 



AUSTRALIAN VIOLETS. 



