THE VICTOIUAX NATURALIST. 173 



every order of the vegetal kingdom are represented, from the lofty 

 eucalyptus down to the microscopic unicellular alga;. Here everlasting 

 lichens interspersed with hygroscopic mosses cover the boulders, 

 wondrous liverworts hide the clayey banks. Fungi, fleshy, woody, 

 gelatinous, are in season remarkably abundant. Tlie much prized 

 mushrooms love to dwell here; sweet scented agarics equally abound; 

 in short a place that should delight the heart of a specialist. Certainly 

 no fungologist should fail to visit the park. 



Anyone wishing to procure a good sized herbarium of Phaner- 

 ogamous plants within a short period and almost within the city, 

 I should urge to explore the park. 



The total number of plants collected in that locality is 271, 

 comprising 58 natural orders. Of these the order Cumposifce carry 

 off the palm with 38 species, Graminece standing second with 32, etc. 

 Reference to the " Census" evinces that 204 species only of the 

 above are indigenous, the remainder having been introduced through 

 various channels from different countries. The greater number of 

 these aliens have thoroughly established themselves, and in some 

 instances the hardier kinds have replaced the weaker native species. 



Here I wish it to be understood that the list can have no claim to 

 completeness, as some species I have probably overlooked, and 

 additional plants might at any time escape from the adjacent fields 

 and gardens; these localities offering a fruitful source of swelling the 

 already large number of naturalized plants. 



On comparing the flowering time of the plants in Studley Park, 

 with those in different localities around Melbourne, we note that the 

 former produces flowers in average somewhat later in the season. 

 For example: Drosera menziesii and D. auriculata showed blossoms 

 early in July in the vicinity, whereas in the park I observed 

 flowering specimens, first in August, although stems and leaves 

 could be noticed in July. 



Through climatic influences the flowering time is subject to 

 variation; hence a deviation in the production of flowers may be 

 observed on the plants growing in Studley Park. For example. 

 Acacia dealbata blossomed last year in August; this season I noticed 

 numerous trees bearing blossoms freely in July. On the whole, 

 however, the deviation is but slight, and a pretty precise calendar 

 answering for each succeeding year may be established. 



As Tasmania has numerous plants in common with Australia, and 

 to New Zealand also several species extend, I have indicated the 

 simultaneous occurrence of these plants. Some species were intro- 

 duced from Great Britain, others from South Europe, some again 

 from the Cape of Good Hope ; various cultivated trees from America, 

 &c. To determine the names of these, the flora of each of the countries 

 would be requisite. !N"ot possessing the necessary literature em- 

 bracing the whole subject, nor even having the " Flora Australiensis" 



