326 A. A. HAMILTON. 



the hillside. A widely separated community of this species 

 occurs on the higher slopes of the Blue Mountains. 



Two Hibbertias were noted, the upright H. linearis R.Br, 

 and the straggling H. fasciculate R. Br., at a distance from 

 the line of exposure. The weedy Pomax umbellata Sol., 

 does not alter its configuration either on the open hillside 

 under direct insolation or in the dense shade of a shrubbery. 

 Its occasional associate, Chloanthes Stoechadis R. Br., on 

 the contrary, responds quickly, by reducing the size of its 

 leaves, when subjected to direct sunlight. 



Billardieri scandens Sm., on the open hillside is reduced 

 to a shrubby growth. Its climbing habit, though tem- 

 porarily suspended, is disclosed by the advent of one or 

 more rampant twining shoots in the early spring, which 

 are unable to persist in the absence of shrubs to climb upon. 

 The rigid leaved Burrawang, Macrozamia spiralis Miq., is 

 well equipped, both above and below the ground line, to 

 withstand drought conditions, hypogeally, by virtue of its 

 tuberous rootstock — a reservoir of food and moisture — and 

 epigeally by means of its transpiration resistant foliage. 

 The frequent mutilation of its leaves by grazing animals 

 has resulted in a reduction in the length of the frondage. 



Two Eucalypts, the Blood-wood, E. corymbosa, and E. 

 virgata Sieb. var. obtusiflora Maiden, form small groves 

 on the hillside, occasionally in close proximity but not 

 intrusive. The former in favourable situations attains the 

 dimensions of a large tree, but in this impoverished soil can 

 only maintain a limited arboreal growth. 



On the lower slope of the hill where the shoreline winds 

 into Oabbage-tree Bay, the straggling Rumex scutatus L. r 

 an immigrant from southern Europe, has established its 

 trailing stems among the Kangaroo-grass and other cses- 

 pitose vegetation, its succulent herbage indicating its 

 xerophytic protective device. Though not exclusively con- 



