88 PLANT HABITS AND HABITATS IN THE 



itself is perfectly suited to the needs of the sandhills species growing 

 round about, yet they appear never to have encroached on the soak 

 more than they do at present. 



Of other isolated species, one of the most curious is the flat-stemmed 

 and leafless Bossioea walker (plate 29a). This low shrub forms a small, 

 thicket-like growth. It was seen in several fairly widely separated 

 places, among which was a sandy ridge immediately north of Sta- 

 tion 408. ■ At this place, and not far from the Bassicea, there occur a 

 few specimens of a yet more curious shrub, Hakea multilineata. This 

 is a tall shrub with very long coriaceous and strap-like leaves of up- 

 right habit (plate 29, b and c). The large and stiff spikes of flowers, 

 "bottle brushes," add to the wierdness of the plant. In the same 

 neighborhood as the two foregoing were Acacia salicina, Calliiris 

 verrucosa, Eucalyptus leucoxylon var. macrocarpa, Melaleuca uncinata 

 (plate 29d), and Gravillea stenobotrya. Of these, CalUtris, the "pine," 

 is a small tree at the only place. Station 408, where it was seen. 



Gravillea stenobotrya, one of the "beef woods," is a species of con- 

 siderable interest (plates 24a and 25c) . It becomes a fairly large shrub, 

 3 meters or more in height, and has a very open habit of growth. 

 The leaves are long and narrow and do not appear to be very abundant. 

 It is thus apparent that the transpiring surface is relatively small. 

 The specimens of the beef wood especially examined were situated 

 on the summit of a sandy ridge at the condensers. A point of special 

 interest in association with the species is its habit of storing water 

 in the roots. It appears that it is one of possibly two woody species 

 of the region (the other is the so-called "water mallee") which does 

 this. Mr. Jay, of the condensers, very kindly demonstrated the roots 

 for me. After removing the surface soil to a depth of approximately 

 60 cm., several horizontal roots, 3 to 4 cm. in diameter, were laid bare. 

 These were cut into lengths of about 30 cm. and set on end in a bucket. 

 After a few minutes moisture accumulated at the lower ends, but owing 

 to its being at the close of a period of drought not enough water was 

 present to run into the receptacle. The short lengths of root were 

 relatively heavy. When the bark was stripped off, much moisture 

 was found in the region of the cambium. I was informed that at less 

 dry seasons of the year and in more favorable situations at all times, 

 the manipulation of the roots in the manner above described would 

 surely result in sufficient water for drinking. 



In addition to the water mallee and the beef wood (perennials), there 

 is the annual "parakeelya," Calandrinia balonensis, which also has 

 the capacity of storing water. At the time of my visit this little species 

 was in flower. It is a low form with numerous very fleshy and rigid 

 leaves. The plants are much sought after by animals which depend on 

 them to a certain extent for their drinking water. They have the ability 

 of retaining their turgescence for a considerable time after removal from 

 the soil, and even if placed in the warm sunshine they wilt only slowly. 



