104 PLANT HABITS AND HABITATS IN THE 



as in the Mount Lofty Ranges near Adelaide, so that its presence at 

 Quom suggests that that place may be regarded as being on the transi- 

 tion line between the dry north and the humid south. This view is 

 substantiated by rainfall statistics also, as well as by other facts 

 touching plant distribution. 



Cassia sturtii is present in small numbers. The leaflets are 6 to 10 

 in number, and both the narrower and the broader leaved forms are 

 to be found in the scrub. At Quom it forms a shrub about 1 to 1.5 

 meters high and ranks with the golden wattle in the brilliance of its 

 flower. The species has the appearance of having a greater leaf sur- 

 face than at Copley. 



As above given, Eiicalyphis odorata, the mallee, is a small tree, 

 about 8 to 10 meters high at Quom, and has the so-called "mallee" 

 habit of growth — that is to say, in place of there being one main shoot 

 only, many shoots of equal rank and of approximately equal length 

 spring from a thickened base. Each shoot ends in a number of small 

 branches of unequal length which bear only leaves. The general canopy 

 effect is indicated in plate 26c. The leaves of E. odorata, as well as of 

 E. oleosa, are relatively small. They are 8 to 12 cm. long and usually 

 less than a centimeter wide. 



Of the two species of Eremophila, E. brownii is the most widely 

 distributed in South Australia. It was seen at Oodnadatta and at 

 Copley and occurs in the southern and westem portions of the state 

 as well. The leaves are linear and 2 to 3 cm. in length. 



Exocarpus spartea and E. aphylla are not common in the mallee scrub, 

 although the latter is fairly abundant. The latter is a shrub 2 to 4 

 meters high and with its leafless branches is very striking. E. spartea 

 has linear-subulate leaves, which, however, do not conceal the broom- 

 like branches. The leaves of this species appear to fall away easily, 

 so that upon the advent of dry seasons the shoots are probably bare. 

 Eutaxia empetrifolia is a small, weak shrub with minute linear leaves. 



Another species common in the scrub is Dodoncea attenuata; this has 

 a dense shoot whose leaves and fruit are covered with a resinous 

 substance. Hakea leucoptera, which was found at Copley also, is 

 rather abundant on the outskirts of the scrub and in the adjacent open 

 fields. Hakea is a shmb, 1.5 to 2.5 meters high, which occurs in open 

 colonies. A portion of the root-system of the species lies close to the 

 surface of the ground and from such roots daughter shoots spring up, 

 reproducing the plant vegetatively (plate 28b). From the frequent 

 occurrence of Hakea in groups, as noted, it seems that this is a common 

 way of its propagation. 



Of the other species, Pittosporum phillyrceoides is one of the most 

 interesting. This is a small tree with drooping branches and leaves 

 about 15 cm, long by 5 to 8 mm. wide. In the mallee scrub there 

 is also a fairly thick growth of Triodia irritans. Loranthus pendulus 

 occurs fairly abundantly on Eucalyptus oleosa in the scrub. However, 



