BY R. H. CAMBAGE. 449 



area. Dr. James Cox,* in describing a trip to the Caves over 

 forty years ago, refers to " the great variety of Epacris" along 

 the roadside, but his remarks apply to the sandstone area which 

 is the common habitat of the genus. 



Near the point where the Tar alga road crosses the creek above 

 the Caves several trees of Gasuarina Cunninghamiana, the River 

 Oak, were found growing on the limestone quite 140 feet above 

 the stream. This is unusual, as the species is generally confined 

 to the bed and banks of watercourses. Evidently the roots had 

 reached moisture among the rocks. 



One of the most charming plants noticed in the valley of 

 the Wollondilly was Senecio macranthus, which, late in Septem- 

 ber, was in full flower. Clusters of plants, in places several feet 

 across, were, to quote from Mr. Maiden's notebook, " blazes of gold ." 



An interesting feature of the vegetation in the Wollondilly 

 valley is the presence of small isolated patches of trees, many of 

 which are usually found in coastal brushes, but which are here 

 confined to sheltered nooks in the steep gullies. Amongst the 

 number are Laportea gigas, the well known Stinging Tree, Pitto- 

 sporum undulaLum, Nephelium leiocarpum, Carumbium populi- 

 folinm, Trema cannabina, Ficus rubiginosa and F. aspera. Some 

 of these will grow in the open, though for the most part they 

 prefer shelter. Perhaps Ficus rubiginosa braves the elements 

 better than any, and may be seen at times even on the western 

 watershed, an instance once noticed being on the hills near 

 Attunga, beyond Tamworth. But the tree which is more sug- 

 gestive of shelter and moisture than any other of those mentioned 

 is Laportea gigas, and it is also a sure indication of rich soil. In 

 some districts on the South Coast, before the brush was cleared, 

 there was no better guide to good land than that afforded by the 

 presence of the Stinging Tree. Near the Caves road it is stunted, 

 and only occurs in recesses which are sheltered from westerly 

 winds. At one spot where these trees are growing the absence 

 of wind was remarked, although it was known that a cold 

 westerly gale was blowing on the hill tops around. The survival 



* Trans. Phil. Soc. New South Wales, 1862-65, p. 198. 



