THE FLORA OF AUSTRALIA. 



with the fauna so with the flora of Australia, 

 quite unlike almost all other parts of the world, 

 some thousands of species of flowering plants and 

 trees have been discovered. 



The wattle, of which there are several varieties, is 

 very beautiful when in full bloom. We were for- 

 tunate in having an opportunity to see these trees at 

 the flowering season in our drives through the coun- 

 try. 



You find here, also, the magnificent acacias, yellow- 

 flowered mimosa, sweet-scented myall, and flowering 

 banksias. 



Much of the scrub which covers the sandy plains 

 presents, in the spring, a great variety of blossom. 

 Many of these are armed with thick, short, sharp 

 thorns and spikes, permitting you to admire their pro- 

 teges (the flowers) with your eyes, but not to touch 

 them with your hands. In almost all instances where 

 we attempted to pluck wild native flowers we were 

 met with these terrible thorns. 



In the forests are the gigantic ferns ; some of these 

 grow to a height of forty and fifty feet. I presume 



