AUSTRALIAN VEGETATION. 



The great continent of Australia exhibits through- 

 out its varied zones marked diversities in the physi- 

 ognonay of its vegetation. These differences stand 

 less in relation to geographical latitudes than to geo- 

 logical formations, and especially climatical condi- 

 tions. Yet it is in few localities only where the pecu- 

 liar features, impressed by nature as a whole on the 

 Australian landscape, cannot at once be recognized. 

 The occurrence of Eucalypts and simple-leaved Aca- 

 cias in all regions, and the preponderance of these 

 trees in most, suffice alone to demonstrate that in 

 Australia we are surrounded largely by forms of the 

 vegetable world which, as a complex, nowhere re-oc- 

 cur beyond its territory, unless in creations of ages 

 passed by. ^ 



In a cursory glance at the vegetation, as intended 

 on this occasion, it ^^ not the object to analyze its 

 details. In viewing vegetable life here, more parti- 

 cularly as the exponent of clime, or as the guide for 

 settlement, or as the source of products for arts and 

 manufactures, we may content ourselves by casting a 

 view only on the leading features presented by the 

 world of plants in this great country. While the 

 absence of very high and wooded mountains imparts 

 to the vegetation throughout a vast extent of Austra- 

 lia a degree of monotonyj we perceive that the occvjr. 



