74 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



Flora of the Mountain. — In addition to a census of many 

 of the plants of Mount Hotham, scientifically arranged after 

 the system of our illustrious Nestor of Australian Botany, 

 Baron von Mueller, I now give a general description of the 

 habitats of the prevailing species. 



If we examine the vegetation on the summit of the mountain 

 during January or February, it will be noted that many of the 

 plants are restricted to these altitudes. Let us examine the lowly 

 forms which blossom on the edge of a small rivulet percolating 

 through the dense sward of snow-grasses. There, irrigated 

 by the melting snow, are some endemic Ranunculi, the lovely 

 white-flowered Caltha introloha, and the yellow-flowered Ranun- 

 culus Millani and R. Gunnianus ; while on the little flat below 

 us, near the same watercourse, bloomed the luxuriant Anemo- 

 neous Ranunculus, or, as it is named, Ra?iu7icidus anemoneus, 

 the veritable king among the Australian Ranunculi, its lovely 

 white petals frequently attaining a length of two inches. It is 

 to be regretted that this lovely plant is fast disappearing from 

 the summits of our Victorian mountains, owing to inroads made 

 into the native vegetation by stock, as these Alpine areas 

 become increasingly occupied from year to year. These 

 greyish-white patches near us indicate the sites of a minute 

 compositeae, the endemic Leontopodium catipes ; while the 

 larger patches of silvery grey and green are also Alpine, the 

 white-flowered Aster Celmisia. Those beautiful yellow patches 

 on the lower slopes are fields of Helichrysum bracteatuin, relieved 

 by the pearly Helipterums, and contrasting pleasantly with the 

 puce flowering Euphrasia Bj'ownii; while the small, green, 

 moss-like patches near us are representatives of two orders — 

 the Stackhousieas and Caryophylleae. This is 6". pulvinaris, and 

 that Scleranthus viniaroidts, both Alpine. Those puce and white 

 daisy-like flowers are Brachycomes. The puce one is Brachy- 

 come nivalis, and the other is B. radicans. There are also several 

 endemic Umbellifers. See that magnificent yellow flowering 

 species, Aciphylla glacialis, with its deeply divided sap-green 

 leaves, a very prominent feature in the vegetation, and next 

 to the Helichrysums, Helipterums, and Asters, at once arrests 

 the attention of the tourist. Baron von Mueller suggests that 

 this plant might, through cultivation, become available as an 

 additional culinary esculent ; a view which I also share. In 

 contrast with this large and showy umbellifer is the lowly 

 Oreomyrrhis pulvinifica, a small but pretty plant, with white 

 flowers, and leaves beset with strong hairs. 



Struggling over the rocks on the higher points are decumbent 

 forms of Rutaceas, the pink-flowering Boronia algida. and the 

 yellow-flowering Eriostemon phylicifolius vieing in loveliness 

 with the myrtaceous Kunzea Muelieri, while here and there the 

 lowliest of all the Thymelea^ finds its representative in the pretty 



