TOPOGRAPHICAL, ECOLOGICAL, AND TAXONOMIC NOTES. 311 



the vegetation on the ocean headland consists of the prickly 

 narrow-leaved Melaleuca nodosa Sm., a species edaphically 

 adaptable but climatically restricted. It is present on the 

 landward sand hills and on the Wianamatta shales of the 

 Bankstown-Oabramatta district, retaining its xerophytic 

 leaf structure in both regions. In the latter area it occas- 

 ionally covers large tracts several acres in extent, with a 

 practically pure culture. 



On the exposed (southern) slope of Deewhy Head the 

 vegetation is low and closely packed, creeping over, or 

 clinging to the verges of the boulders and benches, and 

 rooting in the soil pockets among the rock masses. The 

 wiry leaved Xerotes glauca R. Br., forms ribbon-like 

 colonies in the soil trenches, curving among the rock 

 benches, or takes exclusive possession of a shallow basin. 

 Plants of the flat-stemmed (cladode) Bossicea scolopendria 

 Sm., growing in the rock crevices have developed excep- 

 tionally large tufts which demonstrate the suitability of 

 this species for a harsh exposed position, The trailing 

 stems of the "Sarsaparilla," Smilax glycyphylla Sm., 

 wind in and out among the low shrubs or coil themselves 

 upon each other on the bare rock ledges. Marsdenia 

 suaveolens R. Br., a twiner under favourable conditions, 

 can only maintain, in this situation, a short debilitated 

 stem, with rarely a few branches. 



A few spreading tufts of the somewhat rare Schcenus 

 tenuissima Benth., find a lodgment in the soil pockets, but 

 it is better suited in sandy peaty soil, which, though con- 

 stantly moist, is rarely inundated. Its ascertained range 

 northwards does not extend far beyond Port Jackson, aud 

 it was until recently regarded as an exclusively coastal 

 species. 1 Several plants of the scrambling Bauera vubioides 

 Andr., which is usually found on the banks of a watercourse 



1 Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., xxxv, p. 412. 



