The Biology of the Coastal Plants, 57 
the trees lie in the borderland between trees and shrubs and it is immaterial 
into which class they are placed. 
Regarding the growth-forms 28 species are erect and ı2 prostrate or semi- 
prostrate. Of the erect shrubs ı7 are tall (3 m or more), 9 of medium size 
(1—3 m) and 2 small (less than ı m); their growth-forms and the number of 
species to each are: — bushy-shrubs 18; tree-composites 5; divaricating-form 2; 
flat-stemmed leafless 1; Dracophyllum-form ı; liane-like ı. The divaricating 
shrubs are more or less globose or cushion-like. The prostrate shrubs are 
either rock (10 species) or dune (2 species) plants; their growth-forms and the 
number of species to each are: — mat-like 8 (spreading 5, trailing 3); divari- 
cating 2; DREH: -cushions 2; the divaricating are of dense habit and may also be 
classed as “open-cushion”. 
The stems of most of the shrubs are slender, those of the shrub-composites 
and AHymenanthera crassifolia being the stoutest. This rock-xerophyte has 
‚gnarled, stout stems which, apparently rigid, are really quite flexible and hug 
the under-lying rock as tightly as possible forming stiff mats or low cushions 
some 30 cm deep and ı m or so in diam. The more or less prostrate shrubs 
have generally flexible stems, those of Pimelea arenaria (dune=plant) and Co- 
prosma Kirkii (rock-plant) being especially so. “The wiry, reddish stems of 
C. acerosa have been already noted. Muehlenbeckia Astoni has stiff wiry, divari- 
cating branches which by interlacing, build on BaRy shores irregular, rounded 
cushions ı.5 m high. ® 
The roots of many species, especially dune and rock plants, are eheiheh 
long. Plagianthus divaricatus of sält-swamp and salt-meadow sends out very long. 
roots horizontally through the soft substratum after the manner of the mangrove. 
Coming now to the leaves, — 2 species have large leaves (10—20 em 
long), 7 have them of medium size (;—ıo cm), 9 small (2.5—5 cm) and 20 very 
small (2.5 cm and less). ‚Dracophyllum Sinclairü with its grass-like leave 
4—ı2 cm long and Carmichaelia Williamsii leafy only when juvenile and ith 
fat, ee en units we ıded in the abo 
