l^eb., 1907.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 175 



A BOTANIST AT MOUNT BULLER. 

 By Dr. C S. Sutton. 

 {Read before the Field Naturalists'' Cluh of Victoria, lith Jan., 1907.) 

 On the occasion of my visit to Mansfield last November my 

 main objective was, of course, Mt. BuUer, whose summit, lying 

 about 25 miles due east, was, for two short periods during my stay, 

 obviously snow-covered ; but while awaiting my opportunity to 

 make its closer acquaintance I devoted my spare time to the 

 flora in the vicinity of the town. 



The Upper Paleozoic area of Mansfield is described by Mr. 

 Reginald Murray as beautifully park-like in character — well grassed 

 and tiiinly timbered, and having been long settled and always 

 well stocked, the original flora has naturally suffered. In effect 

 the only flowering plants seen on the flats were Pimelea humilis, 

 Goodenia pinnatifida, Viola hederacea, Vittadinia autralis, large 

 patches of Lobelia jyedunculata, Erythrcea australis, Convolvulus 

 erubescens, and a profusion of Hydrocotyle laxiflora, often 

 betraying itself by its characteristic odour, and Helipterum dimor- 

 pholepis. Among the low hills lying close to the town, and 

 which seemingly had never carried m.uch timber or scrub, my 

 fortune was better, for I found Hibbertia obtusifolia, with its fine 

 large bright yellow flowers, everywhere, and collected the curious 

 little composite so like a gnaphalium, Stuartina muelleri. The 

 still smaller Rutidosis pumilo was very plentiful, and the charming 

 little alien, Alchemilla arvensis, or Lady's Mantle, was noticed, 

 as were also Aspenda oligantha, Galium australe, Ranunculus 

 parviflorus, in seed, and Caladenia pattersoni, of very low growth, 

 G. carnea, and G. congesta, the last with a very characteristic and 

 not unpleasant perfume. 



My efforts were still better rewarded on a visit to Blue Range 

 Creek, an affluent of the Broken River, which, flowing in a 

 northerly direction to join the Goulburn, separates the Blue 

 Range from the adjacent Strathbogies. On the creek banks, 

 among a number of old friends recognized, were the ubiquitous 

 Hibbertia obtusifolia, Styphelia virgata, Brachyloma daphnoides, 

 Brunonia australis, Tetratheca ciliata, Thelymitra longifolia, 

 Xanthorrhoea australis, and Adiantuin cethiopicum. Mirbelia 

 oxylobioides, looking at first sight like a Pultencea gunnii, 

 was not uncommon, and had just passed its best flowering time. 

 The only acacia seen in bloom was A. teninfolia, and the number 

 of other leguminous plants in blossom was surprisingly small, 

 only Glycine clandestina, Kennedya monophylla, and Gompho- 

 lobium huegelii (growing in rather robust fashion in thick clumps), 

 being noticed, with Daviesia corymbosa fruiting. 



On the side of the range, across the creek, Glossodia major 

 was plentiful, as were the Caladenias previously mentioned, 

 Diuris sulphicrea and longifolia. Here also were Grevillea 



