TOPOGRAPHICAL, ECOLOGICAL, AND TAXONOMIC NOTES. 343 



a few yards of the verge of the ocean escarpment, a small 

 colony of the Reed Mace, Typha angustifolia L., is estab- 

 lished. The customary habitat of these plants is a sheltered 

 lagoon, or the shallow water of a creek, but no diminution 

 of vigour was apparent as a result of this change of environ- 

 ment. 



At Mistral Point a sward of Buffalo-grass stretches 

 across the hillside to the escarpment parapet. Its margin 

 is fringed by a dwarfed succulent form of the variable 

 Senecio lautus Sol., with short cylindrical leaves. In a 

 swampy drainage channel Dampiera stricta R. Br., finds 

 the peaty soil favourable for development, and broadens its 

 leaf lamina. On the dry sandhills its leaves are reduced 

 to a narrow linear blade. Two closely allied species of 

 Callistemon have drawn a distinct line of demarcation in 

 their boundaries, indicating their respective attitude 

 towards a swamp environment. C. linearis DO., is restricted 

 to the margin of the swamp and can only maintain a narrow 

 elongated leaf, its confrere C. lanceolatus DO., proceeding 

 into the centre of the area and supporting a broad leaf-blade. 



Eriostemoii lanceolatus Gaertn./on the sandhills main- 

 tains an ample foliage, which in the plants growing on the 

 sea-board is considerably reduced. The xerophytic Epacris 

 microphylla R. Br., finds the crown of a dry sandstone hill 

 as suitable a habitat as one well within the confines of a 

 swamp, and presents a similar facies in either situation. 



Three species of the genus Poranthera are present on 

 the headland, P. eorymbosa Brongn., and P. erieifolia 

 Rudge, choosing dry exposed positions, their relative, the 

 prostrate flaccid-leaved P. microphylla Brongn., creeping 

 under the rock ledges, or into the denser parts of the 

 shrubbery, in search of shade and moisture. P. erieifolia, 

 endemic in New South Wales, has a coastal range from 

 Newcastle to the southern Illawarra, P. eorymbosa, with 



