PAST, PRESENT, AND FDTUEE OF THE AUSTRALIAN FLORA. 121 



the far famed "Blue Gum" of Tasmania, is remarkable for 

 the rapidity of its growth. Few trees in Eastern Australia 

 afford a more grateful shade than the gnarled and spreading 

 Angophora, the larger species of which may be termed 

 " Rain-trecR " on account of the drops of water which at 

 certain seasons fall from their leaves. Several species of 

 Eugenia (a genus also not extending to Western Australia) 

 are likely to be cultivated for the beauty of their foliage 

 and flowers, as well as for the flavour of their fruits. 

 The Proteacea3 furnish some of the most singular species 

 in the Vegetable Kingdom. The "Wooden Pear" {Xylo- 

 meluin pp'iforme, Knight), the "Native Tulip" (Telopea 

 speciosissima. Brown), esteemed as the most splendid of 

 Australian flowers, and the peculiarity of Drjjandra and 

 Banksia were looked upon as great novelties in the early days 

 of New South Wales, and figures of them were soon published 

 in Europe. In later days, Grevillea, Hakea, and Steno- 

 carpus have each of them found a place in shrubberies, and 

 few gardens are destitute of the most noted species ; whilst 

 Buclcinghamia celdssima (Mueller), and Dat'lingia specta- 

 tissima (Mueller) — some of the recent discoveries in 

 Northern Queensland — are finding favour in southern culti- 

 vation so far as the climate permits. The great order of 

 the Composites, of which many species are inconspicuous 

 herbs or mere weeds, does not offer proportionally many 

 plants for cultivation, but a few of the "'everlasting" kind 

 (such as Helij^teruiii Manglesii (Mueller), //. roseum (Benth.) 

 HeUchrysum elatuni, (Cunn.), and H. Oracteatum (Willd.), and 

 ■some of the Asters, including the "Musk-tree," A. argop>hyllus 

 (Labill.), and A. dentatus (Andr.), may be regarded as excep- 

 tional. Brac1iyco7ne, Calotis, and Minuria comprise some 

 very pretty species which might be utilised for borders, and 

 Cassinia aurea (Brown), C. sj^ectabilis (Brovv^n), and Hiimea 

 .elegans (Sm.), are much larger plants and not unknown in 

 European collections. The Epacrids, which in Australia 

 take the place of Heaths, have attracted attention for the 

 last century, and under cultivation many species have im- 

 proved in appearance or have become double. The 

 following may be especially noticed :— 



Epacris longiflora (Cav.) 

 ,, impressa (Labill.) 

 „ purpurasceiis (R. Br.) 

 ,, inicropkylla {R. Br.) 



JSiypkelia adscendens (R. Br.) 

 „ tubifiora (Sm.) 



Stypheha trijlora (Andr.) 

 Andersonia sprengelioides (R. Br.) 

 Sprengelia incamata (Sm.) 

 Lysinema, Leucopogon, and Astro- 

 loina in several species. 



