587 



was not completely excluded from this region, but the blue- 

 hush gave it a characteristic blue-grey appearance. A very 

 prominent species in this formation is Goodenia pinnatifido, 

 which covered numerous areas and ranged from 10 to 12 cm. 

 high. It was in full flower at the time of my visit (Sep- 

 tember 8) and was a beautiful sight. Podolcpis canescens was 

 found in this station, and it is a larger plant than the pre- 

 vious one but not nearly so plentiful. It brightened the dull 

 hue of the bluebush foliage. 



To be seen in some numbers with the above plants was 

 an interesting v^ariety of Calotis tntdticaulis (n. var. hrevi- 

 radiata, see p. 604), a small diffuse herb 5 to 20 cm. in 

 height. It was growing in little colonies of about a metre 

 across. Another plant growing chiefly in colonies, but much 

 more plentiful than the last species, was Cephalifterum 

 Drummondii, a species with dense white heads. Some speci- 

 mens collected were remarkably small, being only 3^ cm. in 

 height, while the largest were 15 cm. 



The following plants were often found in association, 

 usually in small depressions jn which water remained for a 

 short period after the rain : — 



Helipterum strictum, growing up to 25 cm. in height 

 and dominating the association. Vittadinki australis, in 

 lesser numbers and not so high. Daucus glochidiatns, about 

 20 cm. in height. Podocoma nana, plentiful, but only up 

 to 8 cm. in height; this is the first record of this plant for 

 Nullarbor Plain. Crassula Sieheriana, varying from 3 to 

 6 cm. Tetragonia expansa, a plant quite prostrate and 

 spreading 20 cm. or more. Plantago varia, the smallest plant 

 in the colony, being only 3 cm.(?) or less in height. And 

 Calandrinia ptisilla, another small annual. 



A small sticky composite (Helhjterum te/nellirmj formed 

 areas of several square feet ; the plants ranged from 6 to 18 cm. 

 in height. Smaller still, and growing together, were Bossia 

 sclerolaenoides and B. patenticuspis, which formed an open 

 association. Two species of Zygophyllum fZ. lodocarpum and 

 Z. ova turn) were associated and grew in considerable numbers 

 where the ground was subject to flooding. A small composite 

 (Minuria leptophylla) was not often seen, but Gnephosis 

 skirrophora was much more plentiful. A dwarf annual cruci- 

 fer (Thlaspi Drummondii) was fairly common in this station, 

 as was also Lepidium. rotunditm, DC, var. phlehopefolum, 

 Maid, et Betclie, a plant only 4 to 8 cm. in height. The tiny 

 annuals — Plantago varia, Calotis hispidida, and Isoetojjsis 

 graminifolia — were fairly numerous between the bluebush 

 shrubs. A common composite was Vittadinia avstrali.'^, and 

 one, much less so, was Elachanthiis pusillns, and an- annual 



