PHYSIOGRAPHY (>/ AUSTRALASIA. 1341 



with ponderous trunks, chiefly on moor-ground occupied by the most common of tin- 

 several of the Australian Grass-trees (Xanthorrtuea). X. Australis extends to Tasmania, 

 and the stem attains several feet in height, the spike without the stalk exceptionally 

 eight feet in length. Larger still are seen X. Prcissii of Western Australia, when- it is 

 of extraordinary frequency, and farther X. rcsinosa or X. arborca of New South Wales 

 and Queensland, and X. Tatci of Kangaroo Island, all yielding a balsamic fragrant 

 varnish-resin, rich in picric acid. The Arundo-Reed and the Reedmace-Typha are In re 

 with us far south quite the same as the European kinds. The almost incomparable 

 heath-like Epacris hnprcssa hailed for horticulture from Tas- 

 mania, and has been prized for such since the early part of 

 the century, but it forms vast flower-fields largely of > its own 

 in South Australia and Victoria. In singular contrast to Tas- 

 mania stands New Zealand, although comparatively so near, 

 through the utter difference of the woody vegetation, and 

 indeed much of the herbaceous also. Thus the Eucalypts are 

 entirely wanting, and cannot even be considered as replaced 

 by the somewhat allied and often brilliantly flowering 

 Metrosideros-trees, the famed Rata of the Maoris. 

 A great feature in the vegetation in New 

 Zealand is the Veronica, that genus of world-wide 

 distribution being richer than anywhere else, com- 

 prising forms from small trees to shrubby plants, 

 some with even Cypress-like foliage. Before parting 

 from the Tasmanian vegetation special 

 allusion should be made to the Tan- 

 Wattles, which have become cele- 

 brated. The only "Silver Wattle" of 

 valleys and river-banks {A. dcalbata) 

 grows into the largest of the Acacia- 

 trees there, unless it may be exceeded by the 

 Blackwoocl-tree (A. melanoxylon), the latter supply- 

 ing splendid furniture-wood, and the best wood 

 for bending under steam. The late-flowering 

 Black Wattle (A. mollissima), of ridges and hills, 

 furnishes a still heavier and stronger bark, and 

 offers one of the most profitable trees for tan- 

 bark anywhere in existence, but like most Aus- 

 tralian plants it will not endure severe frosts. The LIMNANTHEMUM EXAI.TAITM. 

 two Wattle-trees just mentioned extend also in 



masses to Victoria and New South Wales, while the Sydney Wattle (A. deqirrens) hardly 

 occurs beyond the boundaries of the eldest colony, and is distinguished by the leaflets 

 being not so minute nor so crowded. The fresh-water plants of the whole extra-tropic 

 portions of Australia, from the minute Duckweeds to the Potamogetons, remind one of Euro- 

 pean forms ; but many of these forms are not repeated, such exotics as Ottclia taking their 



