VEGETATION 21I 



while smaller kinds frequently trail as parasites over the stems of the tree-ferns. 

 One of these beautiful climbing species, commonly known as the creeping-fern 

 {Poly podium, scandens), forms a huge network over the giant stems of that 

 magnificent forest-tree the Australian evergreen beech (Fagus cunninghami), on 

 which it often ascends as high as the leafy crown. Clinging closely to these trees, 

 the creepers grow with the greatest luxuriance, till high up in the mass of foliage 

 they stretch in graceful festoons from one to another. In other districts of the 

 rainy zone, as in parts of Victoria, another climber, the tetrarena, waves in 

 dense masses from the eucalyptus-trunks, or hangs from the leafy tops of other 

 trees to form a green wall between the shrubs, or to bridge the gaps between the 

 stately tree-ferns. On the ground a peculiar kind of grass often covers large tracts, 

 concealing the fallen trunks of the gum-trees, and forming an impenetrable cushion, 

 or making bridges over deeply sunk ravines, through which flow the forest-streams. 



Very different from the eucalyptus forests of Victoria and other districts of 

 southern Australia is the so-called " scrub," formed by the hard-leaved vegetation 

 of the south and south-west. This scrub, which occurs under very varied 

 conditions, and covers one-eighth of the northern and eastern districts, consists 

 chiefly of evergreen shrubs, although it also includes some dwarf trees. Many 

 fine gum-trees struggle with the other occupants of the soil for existence. The 

 scrub varies much in height, although averaging from 4 to 5 feet, its prevailing 

 colour being a uniform bluish green, broken here and there by white, reddish 

 brown, or vivid green. In many places it consists of only one kind of eucalyptus, 

 which grows to a height of about a dozen feet, although elsewhere recalling the 

 evergreen forests of the Mediterranean countries. It is, however, unusually rich 

 in species of plants, which, though superficially alike, present either in flower or 

 fruit immense variety ; and it should be studied at all seasons, since every month 

 some tree or shrub is in bloom. The rainy season, which has but little influence 

 on the flowering of the woody vegetation of the bush, is, however, poorest in 

 flowers, which are most abundant in the early part of the dry season, from 

 September till November. 



Far more pleasing than the scrub are the wooded plains, the home of the 

 magnificent eucalyptus trees of the driest districts of the island-continent. A 

 striking feature is the pale blue colour of the leaves of these forest giants, which 

 in their leathery texture recall those of evergreen shrubs. In every respect these 

 trees are admirably adapted to a hot climate of intense dryness ; and they exhibit 

 special modes of growth at different ages in order to receive the maximum amount 

 of light. These splendid eucalyptus forests cover not only a large part of the 

 coast-districts of South Australia and Queensland, but reappear in Tasmania. 

 They are densest in districts where underground water is present and on the 

 banks of rivers ; and they cover the greater part of the lower mountain regions 

 and their slopes, so that they may be regarded as peculiarly characteristic of the 

 Australian flora. At regular, and often equal distances these forest giants either 

 stand alone or in small groups, as if planted by a landscape gardener ; and the tops 

 of these gum-trees never touch those trees of other kinds. 



These eucalyptus forests extend to the rolling plains, which form a grass- 

 country, partially covered with low bushes, and dotted with an occasional 



