588 



that grew in numerous patches was Siloxerus hrachypappus, 

 which is a small diffuse annual of from 2 to 6 cm. in height. 

 Tliis latter plant was a notable feature in many places on the 

 Null arbor Plain visited. Two dwarf plants not often met 

 with were K rod in in cyf/noruin and Cooivolviihis: emhe^cens. 

 At the time of my visit the most abundant plant, and the one 

 which covered a large area, was the white everlasting Helip- 

 teriim jlorihundum. It is a very showy annual growing up to 

 25 cm. 



The woolly bluebush { Kochia villosaj was a rare plant 

 on the Nullarbor Plain, as also was K. Geqrgei; they were 

 smaller plants than the typical bluebush (Kochia sedifolia). 

 Growing among species of Zyf/ophylhim were plants of 

 Ltptdiiiiu papdlosif/n. The introduced pest ^Eme.v aiistralis 

 was spreading in the open spaces near the railway line at 

 Hughes, Another rare plant was Lepidium fascicnlatum, but 

 was more plentiful around Tarcoola. Two plants found in 

 open association were Swairisona Oliverl and Sida corrvgata, 

 var. orhicularis. Among the rare species were noted Sal sola 

 Kali, var. sifrohilifera, Senecio hrachyglossir-s, Euphorbia 

 Drvrnwondii, and Minuria Cunninghamii. Tliree grasses were 

 identified : Stipa eremojyhila and S. scahra, var. auricidata, 

 and the dwarf Danthoma penicdlata : the two former were 

 much more plentiful than the latter. 



Salthush Formation. 



The saltbush (Atriplex vesicarium), like the bluebush, 

 is a perennial shrub of about 60 cm. in height. Usually it is 

 just a little shorter than the bluebush, and the two species 

 form the main vegetation of the Nullarbor Plain. 



On the whole, the species observed in association with the 

 bluebush were also noted among the saltbush. There were, 

 however, certain plants only seen with the saltbush. In 

 depressions there was less vegetation than on the higher 

 ground ; the smaller plants (annuals chiefly) were absent, and 

 the formation was decidedly an open one. It was in this 

 station only that the following plants were seen : — Eremo- 

 phila maculata, a shrub about 45 cm. in height; Atriplex 

 campanvulatum , a small saltbush 25 cm. in height ; spear 

 grass, Stipa eremophila (also observed in the bluebush forma- 

 tion) ; Blennodia trigecta; and the decumbent plant, 

 Frankenia paucifl.ora. The annuals were of few species and 

 sparsely distributed, including Lotvsi avstraliJf, var. parvi- 

 foriis^ a plant with prostrate stems and often spreading to 

 1 m. across; Lavatera pleheia, of about 30 cm. in height; 

 small plants of Nicotiaiia suaveolens; and Swain^sorha 

 phacoidts, often wide spreading. 



