336 A. A. HAMILTON. 



An instance of the difficulties attendant upon the estab- 

 lishment of vegetation on the dune at Bondi, came within 

 the experience of the writer. In August 1903, I supervised 

 the planting of a number of shrubs and trees, chiefly Lupines 

 and maritime Pines, which had been grown for this purpose 

 at the Centennial Park, under the direction of the Officer 

 in Charge, Mr. J. H. Maiden. A few days after the work 

 was finished, an exceptionally severe storm arose, and the 

 whole of the plants were buried under two feet of sand in 

 as many days, though defended by three distinct lines of 

 break-winds. 



At the eastern end of the beach, partly sheltered by the 

 headland, the Sea Rocket, Gakile maritima Scop., ventures 

 across the strand to the verge of the tidal zone, frequently 

 establishing its members among the debris thrown up by 

 the surf. It is a decumbent succulent herb and in this 

 situation is occasionally subjected to a considerable degree 

 of spiral torsion. A strong wind will overturn or twist the 

 plant laterally, the heavy trailing limbs upon which it 

 depends for anchorage, as its root system is neither deep 

 nor ramifying, imposing a severe strain on the stem, which 

 is frequently found curved into one or more complete spirals. 

 The quaint fruits, which consist of two bead-like angular 

 articles, are produced in great profusion, and are well 

 equipped to withstand the buffeting likely to be encountered 

 on a voyage along the coast, which may result in its 

 establishment in a new region, both in regard to the tough 

 buoyant material of which the capsules are composed, and 

 the method of construction, i.e., strongly ribbed and pointed 

 at both ends. This species, which is found in maritime 

 stations in Europe and North America, is recorded among 

 the indigenous flora of this State by the authors of the 

 Handbook PI. of New South Wales, p. 27, but is not included 

 by Bentham in the PI. Austr. 



