BY L. ROD WAY. 105 



■uncles. On Mount G-eikie, the taller plants bear larger 

 alternate leaves, but with similar flowers. Here occurs 

 also a small form of E. muelleri, T. B. Moore^ only 15- 

 20ft. high, which, though very similar in general appear- 

 ance to E. vernicosa, still maintains its distinctness in its 

 crenulated leaves with less oblique venation and flattened 

 operculum. I would record also that during my trip 

 throughout the Perouse I searched diligently for a plant 

 answering to the description of Diplarrhena latifolia, B., 

 and though, according to Oldfield and Stuart, it occurs 

 from one-third to the summit of La Perouse, I found 

 nothing of it. Diplarrhena moraea. Lab., throughout the 

 whole district, as well as on some other Southern moun- 

 tains is exceptionally luxuriant, the leaves are broad and 

 the flowers large, and I have little doubt that this robust 

 form is responsible for the name. 



On the hills adjoining La Perouse the rare Ranunculus 

 gunnianus, H. occurs. Here the flowers are all yellow. 



Hibbertia hirsuta B., which chooses for its habitat pas- 

 tures in open situations, our Domain being a favourite 

 locality, indulges in the interesting habit of producing 

 cleistogamic flowers. In the spring, a copious supply of 

 buds are formed. The calyx does not spread, the petals 

 remain minute, and cover in the stamens ; pollen is shed, 

 and self-fertilisation takes place, the bud only bursting 

 with the growth of the fruit. It is easy to understand the 

 advantage this is to the plant. The flowering that takes 

 place in the warmer months is liable, owing to the dry 

 locality the plant lives in, to be seriously interfered with. 

 The spring flowers, on the other hand, are too early to gain 

 the attention from insects necessary for cross-fertilisation. 

 The difficulty is got over in the above manner. 



